September 29th, 2001 ~Arcane (U), Whiplash (D), Elita One (A), Freefall (A), Solar (D), Nightfire(D), Lunar (U) The Wild Surge - Bar Dimly lit and noisy, Dead End's only bar is never lacking in patrons. While the energon isn't of the best quality, many of the chemical additives are unique to the place, and so highly prized by those who can afford them, even outside of the city. For those less affluent, the wall behind the bar still offers old, contaminated energon and various forms of crude-grade fuel as well as the more acceptable low and high grade energon, plus some interesting compounds that are better left to the imagination. Arcane [Robot] [U] -Arcane is seated at a table in the far corner, a cane leaning against his chair. -Moonlight walks in, sits down, and slaps her left hand onto the table. -Arcane looks at Moonlight for a moment, saying nothing. If this ancient mech has emotions, they certainly aren't conveyed on his face. He speaks in a raspy, almost whisper-like voice as he says to Moonlight "And your name is?" -Moonlight glances over at the mech, a slight smile playing on her face as though musing over some sort of private joke. "M'name is Moonlight. And you would be?" -Arcane says flatly "I am known as Arcane." -Moonlight nods her head in acknowledgement. "Pleased to make your aquaintance." -Arcane raises an optic ridge in curiosity, the first sign of any emotional expression from Arcane so far, as he says "And what do I owe the honor of your prescence, young miss?" -Moonlight pauses. "Honor eh? Interesting choice of words." -Arcane says, "Interesting to some, perhaps. However, since I have yet to see you perform some dishonorable act, I feel the term is appropriate." -Moonlight grins rather broadly at this. "Well, don't watch me too long then, or I fear that I'll disappoint you. But you certainly don't look like the general population of the bar. So, I'm a little curious as to why you're here." -Arcane smirks ever so slightly, barely enough to be noticeable "I shall take that perception as a compliment. As to my being here... well, there is occcasion that I am more comfortable in this place than in other similar establishments on this world." -You say, "Oh?" -Arcane nods slowly, and gestures to Moonlight's Decepticon emblem as he says "There are those who oppose you and yours, who would see that your... shall we say... "relationship" with this city come to an end. I am here to monitor their actions, to see they do not do things which would be... unpleasent." -Moonlight shrugs her shoulders easily. "Well. There's all sorts of unpleasantness going around on this planet...I suppose it's almost unavoidable. So, what's in it for you?" -Arcane shrugs softly as he says "I am simply a mech of science, someone who prefers peace to war. I do not join either side in the conflict between yours and your enemies. I simply wish life to continue." -You say, "That would be nice now, wouldn't it?" -Arcane says "Yes, well, it would be nice if you factionals could simply get along, however I understand both your philosophies and as a result I know that peace will not exist until one side is the victor. However, when your enemies choose to move against a neutral city filled with innocent people, simply because of the prescence of your comrades, I will not allow such things to come to pass." -Moonlight stands up. "Why don't we take a little walk? It /is/ a nice night, after all, for sharing opinions. You obviously have some of your own, and I wouldn't mind airing out some of mine as well." -Arcane nods "Very well. A change of setting seems desireable." He picks up his cane and stands up, leaning on it for support. -Moonlight waits patiently at the door for the older mech. -Arcane walks to the door, and opens the door for Moonlight. "Femmes first." he says graciously. -Moonlight inclines her head and walks on out the door. Dead End - North Strip The first thing that draws the attention of most is the massive, hexagonal building that rises several stories above the other buildings in this area. This building at the end of the strip is the Karkas Arena, once the home of some of Cybertron's most famous professional gladiators. The street itself is lined with what remains of the various champions' statues, though most have crumbled or are in poor repair. This district of the city branches off into a number of small alleyways, and serves as a mostly residential area. While generally much more quiet than the rest of Dead End, the Wild Surge bar pumps out more than its share of loud music, and occasionally the roar of a crowd can still be heard from the arena during one of the rare events staged by the city. Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Light Deal Gladiator Residential Complex Karkas Arena The Wild Surge -Moonlight walks on out of the bar with her usual, easy stride. -Whiplash is loitering around outside the bar, lurking in the shadows and watching those who go in and out. -Arcane walks out of the bar with a cane, following Moonlight. -Whiplash recognizes both Arcane and Moonlight, and remains where she is, her purple optics glowing softly out of the shadows. -Moonlight continues on her way through the streets, walking slow enough so the older mech can follow with ease. -Arcane says to Moonlight "So, you are some distance from Darkmount, are you not? What brings you to this city?" -Moonlight looks around at the cityscape. "I suppose it's the most homelike place on this planet. Crystal City is too printine and Darkmount is too militant, though I suppose it wouldn't make sense for it to be otherwise. As for the 'Bot holdings, I've never seen them." -Arcane shrugs and says "They are nothing special." A statement which denotes that he *knows* that for sure... -Whiplash picks up some of that conversation, and moves a little, trailing behind. She's curious now. -Moonlight nods. "I probably wouldn't like it there anyhow." -Arcane nods and says "Indeed." -Whiplash will tag along, sure ... is curious about this conversation about Autobot holdings now.... -Moonlight keeps moving towards the city exit. Sometimes it isn't wise to talk /too/ much about one's opinions in the middle of a city... -Arcane continues walking, his movements silent and muted. Trench Floor Apparently long forgotten by the more wealthy areas of Cybertron, the trench floor has become home for the wretched masses. Here they attempt to merely live in the rust and ruin which falls from the war torn world above. Torn metal lines the sides of the roads. Dripping fluid oozes from walls. There is the unmistakable scent of old fuel in the air. Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Arcane [Robot] [U] Building Dead End City -Whiplash skulks along after them, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. -Moonlight looks back as she leaves the city behind. "Not much to look at, is it?" -Arcane looks back "You'd think so, however, what lies beneath is always more interesting. The brightest lights only come from the darkest shadows..." -Whiplash dives into the shadows, only the faint glow of her optics visible if one happens to know where to look. She's not so much wanting to hide from her fellow 'Con as to be nearby in case of trouble. -Moonlight turns to face Arcane. "What exactly does that mean anyhow?" -Arcane says to Moonlight "You can only recognize power when you can recognize weakness. Often the most damaged and decayed things... have power you do not know." -Moonlight shrugs and turns away from the city again. "Let's keep moving. Sometimes I need to pretend I'm free for a while like I was in the old days." -Arcane turns to walk in the same direction as Moonlight, asking "The old days?" -Moonlight nods her head. "Yeah, before I came here. I was pretty free then...no one is free here." -Arcane cocks his head to the side slightly as he says "Here? By here you mean Dead End... or a much different "here"? -Whiplash tilts her head a bit, and keeps low, to follow along. -You say, "I was origionally from Monacus..." -Arcane looks confused for a second, and then says "So what are you doing here on Cybertron?" -Moonlight smiles. "Well, at the moment I'm walking on it." And she keeps moving away from the city. Bismuth Causeway The trench itself is yet another natural feature of the asteroid core of this world. Dug into the surface from eons of traveling through space and colliding with other celestial bodies, this entire sector of the planet is riddled with canyons of varying degrees. Usually the width of a Guardian, the trench sometimes narrows down so that even the smallest of Transformers has to either force their way through, or climb around the bottle-neck. Visibility is limited down the length of this area, but the trench walls themselves offer a fascinating view. It is easy to see the various layers of heating and cooling of alloys that have taken place on the asteroid millions upon millions of years before it was even captured to be built upon. The Bismuth Causeway's course through here has many spans going across the numerous trench cracks, though many of them have been heavily damaged or collapsed, leaving collapsed rubble in the trench. Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Arcane [Robot] [U] Elita One [Robot] [A] -Elita One is standing along the edge of the trench, patrolling with great scrutiny and scanning the area with procured binoculars. She has the defiant look of someone who knows she is someplace she does not belong, but will not be moved from her spot for any reason. At the first sight of approaching movement, she radar scans the area. ...Company. -Arcane is walking alongside Moonlight, and asks "So, how did you come to be here?" -Moonlight stops her pace for a moment. "I was chased away." -Whiplash is following along after Moonlight and Arcane, keeping close enough to hear their conversation, but far enough back to remain undetected, keeping to the shadows and moving silently. -Arcane looks at Moonlight curiously. He has not noticed Whiplash, nor Elita as he asks "Chased away? By who?" -Elita One makes note of those in approach. Moonlight...Arcane (again, she notes with some irritation), and... Whiplash, being inconspicuous. It would probably be better for her to take some cover with two Decepticons in approach, but Elita is well aware that stealth is not her forte. Still standing solid on the cliff's edge and watching them, she waits to see if they will spot her, and what they will do. -Whiplash's attention is on those she's trailing, but out of long habit her gaze sweeps the nearby surroundings - and catches a shape that isn't normally there. She pauses for a moment, the tentacle-tips flickering around her. -Moonlight resumes walking, unaware that there's an autobot near by. "Well, it's a bit of a long story. You have the time to listen." -Whiplash too has the time to listen - but she's much more interested in that shape up ahead. Maybe it was a good idea to trail along after all. Aviator says, "Mayday! Decepticons, I need backup in the Karkas Arena! I'm damaged!" Solar says, "Who's doing the damage?" -Arcane smiles as he says "If time was currency, my dear, I'd be a rich individual. So tell me your tale..." Aviator says, "It's Freefall! Mayday!" Firepower is heard as the comm ceases. -Elita One watches still, remaining very still up on her vantage point on the causeway. She looks into the shadows especially, watching for any tell-tale flickers. -Whiplash pauses again in her forward motion as a message comes through on the broadband. Someone calling for help. Damn. She looks up toward the outlined shape, likely an enemy. To procede, or to return and help Aviator? -Moonlight quickens her pace only slightly. "Like I said, I'm from Monacus. I don't remember my creators, because the earliest memory I have is being alone and living on the streets, scratching out a living as a petty thief." -Whiplash glances back the way she came. Okay. One Decepticon is in trouble, maybe down, but another, Moonlight, could be walking into an ambush. Finally she decides to stick it out here. Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Is anyone close enough to help Aviator? I'm out a little ways..." Solar says, "I'm already on the scene" Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Good." -Arcane shakes his head "It is unfortunate when life thrusts such situations upon us. However, I am of the belief that true enlightenment only comes from suffering, and that is what I was referring to earlier about the brightest light coming from the blackest darkness..." -Moonlight shrugs her shoulders, not being much attached to philosophy or mysticism. "Yes, well. A mech took me in. He wasn't exactly the best role model, but he did well enough by me I suppose. He was a two-bit smuggler." -Whiplash is almost peripherally listening to Moonlight's tale. It isn't really her purpose, to eavesdrop on a private conversation by another Decepticon ... but, one hears many intersting things while lurking in the darkness. She keeps glancing back up toward that indistinct shape to make sure it hasn't moved. -It hasn't. The certainly Autobot outline is practically part of the scenery. -Arcane nods solemnly as he walks "Sometimes you take what you get, even if he wasn't the best of mentors... So, what led you to wear that emblem?" he gestures to Moonlight's Decepticon logo. -The figure on the cliffside moves slightly, perhaps responding to a message. -Whiplash's attention shifts a little more toward Moonlight again. A question of her loyalties and her reasons for them. This interests her again. -Moonlight looks down at her emblem as well, but doesn't miss a step as she nears the shape that is aware of her, but she is not yet aware of. "I'll be getting to that." Her lips twitch in a bit of a frown. "Swipe, my mentor and rescuer, slowly rose to prominence as he gathered more followers and networks. Soon, we were not only confined to Monacus, but to other planets as well. I was his protege, the one with the best potential...and that made me proud of myself." -Whiplash's sharp optics do catch the motion, though, and she tenses automatically for potential trouble. -Arcane nods as he says "Continue..." -Moonlight nods her head, but keeps walking. "As he grew in power, he also gained more enemies. Then he became cocky. He began over stepping his boundaries and stepping on people's boots. This was to be our downfall." -Arcane pauses for a moment, thinking he hears something, but ignores it and continues walking. He says to Moonlight "And?" -Elita One transmits a radio message. -You say, "Well, one day we were in a rather seedy bar closing a deal, when a bunch of well armed goons came in and grabed Swipe. He told me to flee here, where an associate of his was. Of all the planets, Cybertron was the only one he wasn't well known, the only place he believed I would be safe. Even though there is a war here, at least I would be anonymous." -Elita One is standing on the edge of the causeway, peering down the trail at the other three, cons and unafill, climbing up from below. Watching the three carefully with a pair of binoculars, it is clear that she has not moved from her spot in some time, nor does she plan to any time soon unless provoked to do so. -Whiplash is skulking along in the shadows a few paces behind Moonlight and Arcane, close enough to hear their conversation, and keeping a careful watch on the surroundings, in particular the presumably hostile shape watching from further up the canyon. -Off in the distance the sound of an Aerospace unit of some heading in this direction and its trailing smoke from damage it has suffered. -Arcane is walking with Moonlight, apparently oblivious to Elita and Whiplash's prescence. -Elita One scans the area again to see who or what is approaching. ...Good, he made it. She puts out a call. -Elita One transmits a radio message. -Freefall receives a radio message. -Whiplash's awareness of her surroundings is again drawn to motion - this time a more obvious motion of the flying shape. Her fangs bare for a moment in a soundless snarl. -Arcane begins to say "So how'd you fall in with the Dece..." and then he notices the fighter-jet in the distance. He looks at it and says "By Primus, what is that about?" About this time, since he's looking in that direction, he begins to notice that he and Moonlight are not alone... -Arcane reaches out and place his hand on Moonlight's shoulder, a gesture unlike him, as he points in Elita's direction quietly with his cane, saying nothing. -Moonlight jerks herself out of the land of contemplation with a curse...she usually doesn't sink this deep into herself. "As much as I hate to ask this: what is going on?" -Elita One sees the gesture. Well. It was about time they spotted her up there. -Whiplash draws her legs under herself like coiled springs. She recognizes Freefall's shape, and expects trouble from him and the other one at any moment. So far, she remains silent and hidden in the shadows, however, observing closely. -Moonlight takes a few steps closer to the pink one, keeping her hands out in the open. She approaches until she's within comfortable talking distance, then stops. "Well hello there," is all she says. -Freefall rumbles on by over head looking like he was on the losing end of a fight. Well shock of all shocks. Freefall does not transmitt anything openfire to do any thing at all. The large craft just heads on its way down the highway. -Arcane walks over and stands next to Moonlight and calls out to Elita. "Eavesdropping is rude, miss." -Elita One drops her arm the moment the binoculars are no longer needed to see the other Cybertrons. She stands still in the rush of wind that Freefall kicks up as he rushes by. Then, she looks down to Arcane. "Yes, it is. But," she looks back down a ways, toward the darkness in the trenches, "I wasn't really listening." -Whiplash's optics narrow in contempt as Freefall sails by. Pity it would reveal her location to take a potshot at him now. Some friends of hers would like his head. -Arcane looks up at the passing Freefall and then back to Elita, saying "Does he require repair?" -Elita One nods. "Yes, most likely." Solar says, "We were able to drive Freefall away from dead End for now. But that mech is a true Nuisance" Whiplash says, "He just sailed by here. Would've taken a shot at him to bring him down, but I need to keep the element of surprise here." Solar says, "you want a bit of Invisible back up Lash?" Lieutenant Moonlight says, "I'm feeling rather snubbed right now." -Arcane asks "You have medics on duty to deal with that? My previous agreement with you stands, seeing as you have done nothing to go back on it." Whiplash says, "I got it covered, Solar, thanks. Is Aviator okay? And, don't look back, Moonlight, just play along. I'm not here, right?" -Moonlight folds her arms and gives the Pink femme a sour look...she's being ignored and she doesn't like that. Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Right-O. Gotcha. No Whiplash, no Whiplash at all." -Elita One looks to Moonlight. "I am sorry." She nods. "Hello." Nightfire says, "Aviator's pretty beat up, I'm gonna carry him over to the repair bay and have him put under Electra's care." -Moonlight faces the Pink femme directly. "Ah, that's better. Maybe this whole war is being fought just because you 'Bots are so rude." -Arcane smiles and mutters under his breath "I'd second that..." -Whiplash listens in on Moonlight's complaint and just shakes her head a bit. -Elita One says, "I was merely a little preoccupied with my compatriot's injuries." She looks at Arcane. "If you're offering help, we definitely appreciate it." -Arcane nods to Elita "Yes, I'll assist. However, I wonder how he recieved those injuries?" -Moonlight gives an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose I'll forgive you then." She pauses. "I suppose, from all accounts I've heard, you must be Elita One, /feared/ leader of the Autobots." -Elita One answers Arcane first: "He never explained. You would have to ask him yourself." To Moonlight, she says, "Correct. A pleasure. You are...?" -Moonlight snatches her hat off her head and bows with pomp and circumstance. "My name's Moonlight." Whiplash says, "So here's a thought. We take this fluff-piece out here and now. You up for it, Moonlight? Or ... er, do we want to see what info she might spill first?" -Elita One says, "Well. Good to make your acquantaince. Are your companions as interested in smalltalk as you are?" Whiplash says, "Then keep her distracted." Solar says, "Oh I suppose I could lend a hand Lash" -Arcane is standing there, leaning on his cane, saying nothing. It seems he is trying to contact someone over radio. -Moonlight looks around and rests her eyes on Arcane. "Um...he doesn't talk much." Whiplash says, "Where are you at, Solar?" Lieutenant Moonlight says, "I can but try." -Elita One squints. "Oh, on the contrary, I've met him and he does talk a great deal. It was Whiplash and Solar I was referring to." Solar says, "500 klicks above your head" -Whiplash's optics narrow again at the word "companions." When Elita speaks her and Solar's name, her fangs bare as well. Nightfire says, "What's going on?" Solar says, "Why do they always have radar?" -Moonlight's optics, which aren't hidden as usual by her hat, widen. "Solar?! Where?!" She looks around her. She certainly looks genuinely confused. Whiplash says, "Going to get us some pieces of pink armor plate to decorate the gates of Tarn with, Nightfire. Right next to the TransOrg head." -Solar pops into few 500 clicks straight up Aviator says, "I'll come as soon as my repairs are complete." -Whiplash sidles backwards a little and seeks another way up the passage that won't make her an immediate target. Nightfire sighs, "Just be sure to fill out a report, ok Whiplash? And don't bite off more than you can chew. Though knowing you... that won't be a problem." Whiplash says, "Report? Isn't the shredded remains enough?" -Moonlight frowns to herself. "So much for freedom." And she plunks her hat back on her head with a disatsified thunk. Solar says, "No Aviator you won't" Aviator says, "I won't?" -Elita One looks at her questioningly. "...Freedom?" Nightfire says, "Well, I'd still like something a little more detailed..." Electra says, "Damn right you won't. You're staying here in the Repair Bay for at least a full cycle, if not two." -Moonlight looks at Elita One. "Yeah, freedom. As in not tied down. I came out here for a nice little walk, and it gets interrupted by all these accusations. Sheesh!" -Solar says, "I was not looking for you but running a patrol to make sure one Freefall was leaving Dead End territory and heading in for repairs" -Elita One nods. "Oh. Freedom. I wasn't aware that was a word Decepticons used." Aviator sighs. "Yes, ma'am." -Moonlight grins. "Consider me talented then. I have quite a good working vocabulary you know." -Arcane is distracted with radio messages. -Whiplash shoots Elita a murderous glare, and backs up a little more. Surely there's another passage up the trench wall to reach the Autobot. -Elita One looks up at Solar. "Ah. Well, yes, he is gone, so far as I am aware, back to our territory. So I suppose your job here is done." -Solar says, "My job never really ends, besides this is a rather interesting conversation, and a good intel officer never passes up the chance to eavesdrop" -Whiplash's tentacles thrash in annoyance as there's no good way up the wall that's close by. She could keep moving downward to find one of the innumerable passageways, but that would leave Moonlight and Solar out here alone for longer than she likes. The other option is to bolt up the pathway she's on and hope to startle the Autobot with a burst of speed, but that's tactically a bad position. And Moonlight is in the firing line too. -Moonlight looks over to Solar. "So much for freedom and solitude." She grins. "Oh well...I guess I can't win all the time." And she tips her hat to him slightly. -Elita One looks over to Arcane. "How about it, Arcane...can you confirm that he's gone home?" -Arcane suddenly looks up, and looks at Elita and Moonlight "Well, it has been nice speaking to you both, however I have business to attend to. Moonlight, I would like to continue our conversation at some other point if you like, and Elita.... well it's always a pleasure." There is slight tone of sarcasm in Arcane's last sentence... -Elita One nods. "Good. Thank you very much for your assisstance." -Arcane turns and begins to walk away. -Moonlight nods to Arcane. "Sure, why not. You're a pretty good listener...you could make a profession of it or something." -Freefall banks away heading off in another direction than the Autobot outpost. -Arcane smiles as he walks off "I do, my dear." he says to Moonlight. -Solar says, "That Baldy, such a nice mech" -Whiplash watches Arcane start to leave. Good. That's one out of the way. Abandoning the quest for a circuitous route, she edges back up the path, keeping to the side of the trench wall. Elita may know she's about, but she's not about to make herself an obvious visual target. She stops again a few paces behind Moonlight and settles into a crouch. -Elita One sees that the conversation has paused a bit, and scans the area again. She looks down the causeway, and around a little, without taking Solar too far from her peripherial vision. -Elita One says, "Hm. You all have more company. None of mine, though." -Solar says, "What may I ask did you need assistance with?" -Moonlight girns. "Maybe we should sit down, have a drink, and get to know each other better." She looks at Solar, then looks at Elita One. "Then again...maybe not." -Whiplash's response is another baring of those serrated fangs, a glint of white in the shadows this time, a brief blaze of brilliant violet light. -Solar says, "Would you do me one little favor Elita-1, it is easily within your perrogative, and may actually keep things running a bit smoother" -Elita One almost fails to prevent herself from laughing at that request. "Yes?". -Moonlight is standing around, watching everything with a (purposely) foolish grin on her face. -Solar says, "If you need something from the Wild Surge or the Light Deal in the future, feel free to send in your Autobot brethren, the city is after all an Unafilliated city and I try to do bussiness with all factions. Silverstreak and Scour made homely Unafilliates" -Moonlight scowls slightly at the name of Silverstreak and mutters something to herself about 'knives' and 'mits.' Nightfire says, "I'm going to go get in some recharge, and Whiplash, don't forget that report... please." Whiplash's reply is only a rumbling growl. -Lunar was not happy. He didn't like being so far away from Dead End. But still, it was time he emerged. The trench offers a onvenient hiding place within the shadows, and he takes full advantage of the darkness. -Elita One says, "Did they?" Elita asks purposefully surprised. "Tell me, what kind of business do you do in the Light Deal? I've never been." -Solar says, "The Light deal sells basic supplies, including small weapons, medical supplies and spare parts, and sensor and communication equipment. I also sell a rather extensive selection of rare and precious metals and gemstones. I have a mech named Baroque of my aquaintance who does the odd specialty work for me." -Elita One nods. "Oh. Well, then I just may take you up on that. Thank you for the offer." -Moonlight looks bored now. She yawns. "Now what?" she asks of no one in particular. -Solar lowers his nose in a type of bow "Anytime you learn something the cycle is not a complete loss" -Whiplash's tentacles thrash around her in the shadows. It seems her evaluation of the situation is different. -Lunar sneaks closer. He knows he risks discovery. But he can't trust second-hand information anymore. Lunar blinks. His brother? And Elita-One? -Solar says, "Just let me know and I'll offer a private screening of the warehouse and the Showroom for your viewing pleasure" -Moonlight sits down on the ground and waits, pulling out a deck of cards and starting a game of solitare. -Elita One steps down off a rock, down again, and on to the main path. "Hm." She offers Solar her very flat smile. "We'll be in touch, then." -Whiplash finally has enough of the banter, and turns away in disgust, stalking downward and back in the direction of Dead End. Keeping to the shadows yet, her optics blaze brilliantly for a moment. She's on the same path downward that Lunar is coming up. -Lunar sees Whiplash, but doesn't really bother to hide from her. The other three, however, he's being quite careful to stay out of easy sight. His optics fix reproachfully on Whiplash for a moment, before moving back to the scene. -Whiplash doesn't see Lunar, nor is she easily visible, but she picks up her pace. Finally she's close enough to see she's practically on a collision course with Lunar who is also lurking in the shadows. She comes to a stop and bares her fangs, emitting a long-drawn hiss. -Elita One walks off to the east, heading back to her own territory at a steady pace. Maybe she doesn't plan on walking far, but, in any case, she's leaving the immediate area... -Lunar freezes, his optics moving once again to her. A finger is drawn to his lips, or rather the lips of his articulated mask, then his optics drift once more to the scene. -Solar flips and spins heading west. -Whiplash's hiss fades out, the blazing optics and thrashing tentacles indicate she's not pleased. Giving Lunar a glare, she sidesteps slightly and passes by him, continuing her passage downward. -Moonlight looks up from her game of cards and sees everyone starting to leave. She smiles to herself and goes back to the game at hand. -Lunar seeing that the scene is played out, and seeing that he doesn't want to be caught by his brother, Lunar heads back as well. Dead End - North Strip The first thing that draws the attention of most is the massive, hexagonal building that rises several stories above the other buildings in this area. This building at the end of the strip is the Karkas Arena, once the home of some of Cybertron's most famous professional gladiators. The street itself is lined with what remains of the various champions' statues, though most have crumbled or are in poor repair. This district of the city branches off into a number of small alleyways, and serves as a mostly residential area. While generally much more quiet than the rest of Dead End, the Wild Surge bar pumps out more than its share of loud music, and occasionally the roar of a crowd can still be heard from the arena during one of the rare events staged by the city. Lunar [Stealth Tetrajet] [U] Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Light Deal Gladiator Residential Complex Karkas Arena The Wild Surge -Solar flies on and hovers over the Surge, he goes invisible to make sure the bots stay away tonight -Moonlight is leaning outside the Wild Surge, shuffling the cards in her hands rather absently. -Whiplash makes no attempt to hide her passge now, and the mechs wandering the street, hurriedly get out of the way of the obviously aggravated MedusaSaur. -Lunar shrugs. "Well, DE is Con run at the moment. But, frankly, I don't blame you for not caring." -And with that, Lunar side-steps into an alley. Whiplash is beginning to attract far too much attention. -Whiplash does not reply to Lunar, and instead notices Moonlight up ahead. When she catches up to her, she transforms, and looks for a moment as though she's going to let loose a furious barrage of invectives... -Solar calls down to Lunar "Actually brother I gave the city back to Fortress. ALl I own anymore are the Surge and the Deal. You'll have to take any administrative aspects up with Fortress....Wherever he is" -Whiplash gets herself under control and finally brings out only, "Next time, Moonlight - stay outta the firing line!" She's just not happy they don't have a kill to show for the evening's excursion. -Lunar stops suddenly. "Fortress?" He looks up. "Brother, I took you for a fool, but not for a complete imbacile. How many times will Fortress betray you before you stop trusting him?" -Moonlight raises her hands defensively. "Whoa, slow down and take it easy. I'm not a tactical genius or anything, I'm more used to bar room brawls then anything else. If you don't like where I stand, I'll be more than happy to move for you." -Solar says, "He disolved the partnership not me. I had no choice, because the city was always in his hands." -Whiplash says, "Yeah, well, the positioning was lousy, she could've fired down on both of us without any problem, and I couldn't even get to her past you. What's all that standing around chatting? What did you guys think you were going to get out of her?" She includes Solar in that last question." -Lunar laughs softly, then says, loudly enough for Whiplash to hear, "You all are members of the greatest military force on this planet, and you're allowing a known traitor and con-man to hold a city inside your territory by his own little self? I did not leave the Cons of my own free will, but if this is what you've become . . ." -Whiplash slowly becomes aware that she's in the middle of a potential altercation between Lunar and Solar too. -Moonlight shrugs. "First of all, when I got there, I didn't even /know/ there were any other Cons with me. I'm a talker more than a fighter, and if experianced warriors haven't taken out 'Lita yet, I wasn't about to try. Secondly, I wasn't trying to get anything specific out of her...that would be too obvious." -Solar says, "Actually Lash I got the information I needed out of her...Brother, I have no need to control the city, I control every little credit that goes through here instead. Every supply for the hospice is bought through me, every bet for the arena is put through my bookies. Even the government pays me whatever they have. Especially now that the ship destroyed most of the city." -Whiplash stares incredulously at Solar. "What did you get out of her?" -Lunar says, "And yet a con-man and a traitor run the city. What would our parents think, Solar. I can tell you what they'd think. They'd think that the wrong son was the outcast. Father was a medic, for Primus's sake, and even his mechfluid would have boiled if he knew what you're allowing under your nose." -Whiplash mentally kicks herself. This is definitely the wrong time to be upset over her own lost prey. -Moonlight goes back to shuffling her cards. The other three in the area all seem more intent on each other than on herself. She's just fine with that...for now. -Solar says, "Are you trying to goad me into an altercation Brother. He controls the city only because I don't want to, he is a figurehead, a bastion for the common workers of the city. A city of Unafilliates will trust a con more if they are un by an unaffiliate" -Whiplash refocuses. Here's an opportunity she's been hoping for, and she's letting it slip away. "Okay, look. You *do* know, both of you, that Shockwave called Fortress out to a one-on-one fight?" -Lunar spits. "I'm not trying to goad you into anything, Brother. You are no longer worth such things. You're afraid, afraid to replace Fortress with a figurehead that you can control. That is the Con way. And when Fortress decides to betray you again? What will you do? Slap him on the wrist?" He glares at Whiplash. "And you. You and I fought together to STOP Fortress when he betrayed you. You for Decepticon honor, and I for revenge. How can you conscience this now?" -Solar no longer answers, he gave all the information he is willing to give, for him that is enough. -Whiplash gives Solar a look of realization as he sends her a silent message - then refocuses again. "Did anyone hear from or see Fortress after that? 'Cause I sure haven't talked to anyone that's seen him since then. And believe me, I've been looking." -Whiplash makes her point, "I think he crawled off into a hole somewhere! Not about to do the right thing and face Shockwave and die with some shred of dignity. So he's hiding out somewhere, and it's only a matter of time before we find him." -Solar lands and drops his cloak, he transforms and leans against the wall of the surge, watching as construction crews complete alterations on the Light deal -Lunar laughs bitterly. "And then what? You'll let him go, and he'll betray you again. And Solar, I wasn't the one who set that bomb. But then, I suspect you already knew that, didn't you?" With that parting shot, Lunar vanishes into the alleys of Dead End. -Whiplash says, "So what's any of it got to do with that traitorous bastard? If *I* catch him, Lunar, I won't let him go." -Moonlight just shakes her head. They're talking about someone she doesn't know and therefore does not care about. -Solar mutters to Whiplash: "The ... for that fight is ... anyways. ... ... Fortress the weapons ... ... ... is using. ... I'm ... ... ... give ... ... him without a ... ... AA ... ... his arms have what he thinks are ... attatched to them" -Moonlight shrugs and walks into the bar, the conversation having started to bore her.