June 19th, 2002 ~Dirge(D), Psykeout(D), Deadlands The deadlands of Cybertron stretch out flatly around you for nearly a quarter of the planet. Originally a test bed for Decepticon weapons, the area turned into a massive waste dump area when it was abandoned. The area is littered with bits and pieces of Transformers, bodies of nearly any and every native creature built, old machine parts and just about every manner of debris you could imagine. The area proved to be a natural battlefield, just by virtue of the random cover and entrenchment possibilities, but both sides soon grew tired of fighting over a worthless piece of property, instead, regarding it as a bit of a border or demilitarized zone between regions. There's life here, you just have to look for it, but at first glance, you see nothing worth wasting your time on here. [D] Gravi-Crate Obvious Exits: -U- Up leads to Sky above Ruined Outpost -N- North leads to Meteorite Flats -E- East leads to Ruined Outpost -W- West leads to Waystation -Dirge is kneeling on the ground. He picks up a dead robot's head. -Moonlight is walking through, just walking through, whistling a little tune. -Dirge looks up and sees Moonlight walking by. He stands up and kicks the head away. The head rolls down a little and disappears from view. -Moonlight nods to Dirge as she gets closer. -Dirge says, "Having fun in the wastelands?" -Moonlight shrugs. "Not fun exactly. Just passing through. That's all this place is good for really, besides getting shot at." -Dirge smiles slightly. "If you examined this place you might find something interesting." Dirge kicks at another object. It looks like the remnants of a fist. It falls apart and scatters. -Moonlight shakes her head. "I was poking around in here once and nearly got blasted to bits. I'm not eager to repeat the experience. Besides, I've found other things to keep me occupied besides rumaging through /this/ rubble." -Dirge looks in interest. "Blasted to bits?" -Moonlight nods. "Some big Autobot lout named Freefall, or something like that, took offense to my prescence, even though I was just looking for bits of scrap to make a sculpture out of." -Dirge rocks slightly back on his heels. "I see." He looks a little disappointed upon hearing the story. "There shouldn't be Autobots here now." -Moonlight makes a face. "It was before we took Crystal City." -Dirge turns his head slightly and murmurs, "The past and the present mingle too much with each other." He turns his head back to Moonlight. "Our grip on Crystal City seems more tenuous than it seems." -Moonlight shrugs indifferently. "I don't really care if we keep Crystal City or not." -Dirge again, smiles slightly. "You may look upon that differently if your existence is threatened." -Moonlight doesn't smile back. "It was more interesting when I had to be careful. With the 'Cons ruling here, many of my clients split as well. Bad for business and all." -Dirge nods. "Ah, it's always business, isn't it? And what if the Autobots returned to Crystal City? You probably wouldn't be able to get even to the gates without being crushed." -Moonlight chuckes low in her throat. "That would raise the stakes and raise the money made. Though I would have to be at my most cunning. But I don't want the 'Bots to have the city. I was fine having it Neutral." -Dirge looks at Moonlight grimly. "Your attitude is most puzzling, for a 'Con." -Moonlight grins. "I've heard that a lot lately." -Dirge frowns slightly. "I would have thought a 'Con would wholeheartedly support the conquest of Crystal City." He narrowed his optics. -Moonlight shrugs again. "I'm interested in business. The fall of Crystal City was bad for business. When I find a way to turn it to my advantage, then I will be more cheerful about it's new occupants." -Dirge turns his face back into an impassive mask. "Business, of course. How-mercenary." He shook his head slightly, side to side. -Moonlight hmphs. "I've been doing business before I even knew there was such a place a Cybertron." -Dirge says, "And 'before' the situation has not been as dire." -Moonlight shrugs. "Dire is certainly a word for it. Dim as well. How long has the war been going on for? Too long as far as I'm concerned." -Dirge considers Moonlight's words for a moment. "It is a war of survival. Unless our future is secure, the war isn't on for long enough." -Moonlight just shakes her head. "It's not over because neither side acts as a unit. Or at least, that's my current theory." -Dirge notices some movement into the area. "I have the creepy feeling something's not right here." -Moonlight looks around. "I don't /see/ anything." -Dirge looks around too. "Are you sure about that?" Dirge rubs his head. "I was sure I saw something...." -Moonlight puts a hand on her blaster. "No. But that's because I'm never sure that someone isn't lurking around the next bend." -Dirge frowns. He looks around constantly, spinning in a small circle. "It feels like we're being monitored." -Moonlight gives the place another look around. "Probably just because this place is creepy." -Dirge clenches and unclenches his right fist and looks around again. "That, is too simplistic of an explanation." -Moonlight nods her head. "Simple is good though. Not enough to put down the caution, but if you don't like it, why don't you go somewhere else?" -Dirge gazes at Moonlight. "I enjoy this place. Normally no mech crosses here. Except-today." Dirge shrugs. He was probably being paranoid. He makes an effort to relax. -Moonlight raises an optic ridge from beneath her hat. "Am I making you jumpy?" -Dirge frowns again. "You? You?! Don't give yourself too much credit." -Moonlight shakes her head. "Not giving myself credit for anything. You just mentioned that people usually don't come by here." -Dirge looks for a distraction. He sees a nearby stone and kicks it. It skids momentarily across the ground, flies up in the air and lands some distance away. He turns his attention back to Moonlight. "No, they do not. Most cannot stand the sight of death, so they find other ways to enter Crystal City." Dirge glances nervously over his shoulder again. -Moonlight looks around. "I never thought of it that way. I guess being out here with Whiplash has dulled me to the implications of all the bits and pieces of bodies." -Dirge turns back to Moonlight, a ghost of a smile appearing on his face. "Sit down and smell the rusting hulks. You might learn to appreciate the importance of this war." -Moonlight wrinkles her nose. "I doubt that highly. I appreciate success." She waves her hand over the landscape. "Obviously these people failed." -Dirge crosses his arms and follows the trajectory of Moonlight's arm. "Fear is the element that unites all losers. /They/ forgot." -Moonlight shrugs. "Or they remembered too much." -Dirge takes a few bounds forward. It's the small robot head again. He bends down, picks up it, returns to an upright position and plays a macabre game of catch with himself. -Moonlight shudders...what's with Decepticon mechs and detached body parts anyhow? -Dirge walks back towards Moonlight. "Either way, too late for them." He stops playing catch with the head and examines it more closely. A few wires dangle down. "I wonder how /this/ one went to Oblivion." -Moonlight makes a sound of disgust. "What does it matter?" -Dirge smirks. "Certainly does. By knowing how another met Oblivion, one can learn how to avoid." -Moonlight shakes her head violently. "Not necessarily. Being too cautious can sometimes be as bad as not being cautious enough." -Dirge shakes the head. Some dust fall out, along with a wire. They fall in Moonlight's direction. -Moonlight coughs slightly and backs up. "You seriously need a hobby, you know that, don't you?" -Dirge says, "Being overly cautious guarantees one's prolonged existence." Dirge laughs. "And this does not constitute a hobby?" He resumes his game of catch. -Moonlight presses her mouth into a line. "No, it doesn't. It just means that you are disturbed." -Dirge laughs again. He makes a motion to toss the head towards Moonlight. "Here, catch." -Moonlight just stands there and lets the head fall to the ground. She nudges it away from her with her foot. -Dirge bounds forward and picks it up again. "Your problem is, you cannot see that if you embrace Death, in all its forms, you become a greater warrior." -Moonlight throws back her head and laughs. "You think I /want/ to be a warrior?" -Dirge looks at Moonlight gravely. "It will prolong your existence." -Moonlight sighs. "But I don't think my existence will be worth having if I turn into someone I don't want to be." -Moonlight looks at her time piece. "I should be heading back to the Blaster." -Dirge smiles. -Moonlight turns and heads for the City. "It's sort of my new duty." -Dirge says, "Wonderful Crystal City, the jewel of the Decepticon crown." -Moonlight just nods her head, not wanting to argue along the way. Golden Blaster - Bar Room A former transit station that extended both above and below ground, the Golden Blaster was recently reconstructed. This was once the junction station and has now been renovated into a quiet bar. Several tables are set about, while a former concession stand was converted to a bar equipped with stools for the patrons. The dim lighting and the smell of smoke waft gently through the sometimes still air, adding a quiet ambiance. A jukebox sits in the corner, carrying everything from the latest techno-pop to pre-war love melodies. The quiet in this room allows for deals to be made and secrets to be exchanged with little chance of eavesdropping. Behind the counter most nights is Shotglass, a femme who is very popular with the local patrons. Working the tables are the waiter, Tankard, and the waitress, Downtime. Players: Dirge Psykeout Objects: Drink Menu Slash Jukebox Obvious Exits: -O- Out leads to Crystal City - Commercial Sector -D- Spiral Staircase leads to Golden Blaster - Dance Floor -Dirge is looking at the jukebox, checking out what tunes are available. -Moonlight walks into the Blaster and looks around, hoping that Psykeout is actually here. -Dirge frowns. All the tunes available are...happy tunes. He looks at the bright machine with disapproval. Dirge turns around and decides to have a drink. It would be nice to settle his nerves. -Moonlight walks up to the bar and takes a seat, leaning back on the bar and facing the rest of the room, her optics scanning to see who is here. -Psykeout sits in his usual corner, fingers wrapped around his frosted mug of Dom Megatron. The soft glow off the ember of the ener-cig lights his face, making those around him aware of his presence. -Dirge wanders over to the bar and orders an Omegarita. -Moonlight finally spots Psykeout and walks over to him with a look of relief. "Oh good. You /are/ still there." -Psykeout nods once, looking up to the femme standing before him. "As much as I don't want to, it seems as though I do not have much of a choice in the matter." -Moonlight shrugs and looks around. "It's not so bad. There are worse places to be held up. Though I can appreciate your dislike of being held." -Dirge takes his Omegarita, and notices two comrades in the corner. -Psykeout motions to the seat across from him, meeting Moonlight's optics with his own. "Please. Have a seat. It is not as if I shall be going anywhere soon..." -Dirge takes a sip and calmly appraises the unfamiliar Con. Cons are getting stranger and stranger... -Moonlight nods and takes a seat. "So, how are things in the City. I'll admit that I've been slacking off lately and nosing around Cyberton. I should have stayed here to keep an optic on you, but you seemed resigned to your confinement for the moment..." -Psykeout shrugs silently, as he takes a sip off of his Dom Megatron. He looks around the bar, as he takes another drag off of his ener-cig. "I...I shall keep to my confinement as long as I feel necessary. Do not think that I shall keep my happy aft here any longer than I feel necessary. It was not a direct order from Commander Shockwave and I will not treat it as such." Psykeout leans back in his chair, his optics flickering rapidly, "If I happen to leave the city area, I am sure that I can take care of myself." -Moonlight shrugs. "I don't know about that. It's pretty rough out there. I certainly don't feel safe. But I've got myself a new hidey hole, which always bolsters my sense of security." -Psykeout smiles softly, nodding at the same time. "I have spent my fair share of time on the outside of the safety barriers of Crystal City. You have to remember, Moonlight, that I have moved my home around Cybertron more times than Enfilade has gotten drunk. I am used to spending my time on the outside and I do not appreciate being confined to a single area. It just isn't me." -Moonlight smirks. "But are you used to having an entire faction looking out specifically to kick your aft?" -Psykeout raises an optic ridge, "Does Whiplash count as an entire faction?" -Moonlight chuckles. "Not quite. Close though." -Dirge suddenly walks over to his comrades. He points to Psykeout. "You're the one who's in trouble." -Psykeout snickers softly at Moonlights response, "As I thought..." He drifts off as Dirge walks over to the table. Psyke's optics flicker rapidly, as he looks Dirge from helmet to boot. "I am one of many who are in trouble. Who I am in trouble with, is another question." -Dirge smiles. He raises his glass. "A toast, to the one who is on the top of the Autobot hit list." -Moonlight shrugs and leans back against her seat. She doesn't say anything for the moment, though a look of contentment and satisfaction is on her face. -Psykeout smiles softly, raising his own glass. Turning to Moonlight, "Would you like something to drink?" -Moonlight thinks for a moment. "Sure. You've always been very generous with your credits." -Psykeout chuckles, returning his glass back to the table. Leaning over to Moonlight, "Do you really think I pay for anything to drink in this place?" He motions to the waiter to bring her something to drink. -Moonlight makes an 'O' with her mouth, then grins. "And all this time I thought you were being nice." She shrugs. "Still, I've got no complaints." -Psykeout leans back in his seat, offering a soft smile. "Me...nice? You must have mistaken me for some other mech." -Moonlight waves a hand dismissively. "You're not so bad, though I still think you're a bit creepy. I guess that can grow on a femme." -Dirge walks away from the couple. Weird. /That/ mech is causing such a furore. He orders another Omegarita at the bar. -Psykeout raises an optic ridge, "'Creepy' does not even begin to describe me, Moonlight." He grins broadly, as the waiter ventures to the table with Moonlight's drink in his hand. -Moonlight grins. "As long as you keep supplying drinks, I don't care what's beyond the creepy." -Psykeout snickers, finishing his ener-cig. Rubbing his hand across the side of the mug, allowing the water droplets to run down his fingers, he looks to Moonlight, "What do you think of my being confined to Crystal City? I...I would like to hear your opinions about it." -Moonlight ponders for a moment, sipping at her drink. "Not sure. I think some people care about your well-being, but Solar is just a grump. You're not much of a combat person, so I don't think you'd go rushing in for a fight. But the 'Bots are kind of mad. I suppose it would be smart to stay in Crystal City. If they hadn't told you that you had to, I think you would have stayed anyhow." -Psykeout sighs softly, nodding once. "I have spent most of my time, within the walls of the Crystal City. Although, when I have been ordered to spend my time within the confines of these walls...I want to leave them even more. I do not fight, I just...torture. I don't know..." He drifts off, considering his own thoughts.