August 25th, 2002 ~Whiplash(D) Wastelands The Wastelands are a lesser version of the great abandoned zones that stretch over parts of Cybertron. Immediately, you notice how desolate and devoid of life this area seems. Looking back up the mountain range towards Darkmount, you can truly come to appreciate what a formidable fortress the Decepticon Headquarters is as you stare up at the 20,000' cliff. When you finally tear your gaze away from the mountain to look at the uneven and broken surface of Cybertron that makes up the Wastelands, you can't help but wonder if anything *can* survive out here. The area is massive and seems to go on forever in darkness, so you are only able to see a small part of it at a time. An entire army could take refuge here in the broken landscape and you might never see them. Consequently, the area is also useful for more realistic training in the ways of war. As you ponder the immensity of your devastated surroundings, you hear the little noises of unidentified creatures around you. Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Obvious Exits: -N- North leads to Iron Glacier -S- South leads to Wastelands -U- Up leads to Sky Above Wastelands -Whiplash is back at her old familiar guard post, lying sphynx-like on her boulder, observing the surroundings. Her tentacles flicker around her in contentment. -Moonlight comes strolling into the area, evidently looking for someone...which she finds. Altering her course just slightly she walks up to Whiplash and waves. -Whiplash isn't particularly trying to hide at the moment, which makes her findable to someone who knows where to look. She smiles in greeting. "Hey there." -Moonlight grins back. "I heard your idea. Sounds good to me. Think there will be a good turnout?" -Whiplash says, "Oh, the business about a training session for an infiltrator? I don't know. I mean, who in their right mind would want to pretend to be an Autobot? But I guess a few of you Intel types might be good at it. No offense." -Moonlight's grin expands quite a bit. "You're priceless, you know that, don't you? But I think I might try my hand at the task. I haven't been a Con for very long, so my anti-Bot responses aren't as keyed up as they are in some..." -Whiplash says, "Yeah, but ... can you fake being as pathetic as they are?" -Moonlight waves a hand dismissively. "I'm pretty good at faking nearly anything...except being a loud, drunk mech. I can't keep my face straight for that one." -Whiplash says, "Heh. So you want me to play the 'enemy' to your fake Autobot during the training?" -Moonlight nods her head. "If I get the job, I'll want you to do more even." -Whiplash says, "More? How's that?" -Moonlight pulls up another, smaller rock. "Convincing them that I'm an Autobot isn't going to be the easiest thing. Obviously, if I haven't been around, that will be suspicious, am I right?" -Whiplash says, "I suppose..." She seems not quite sure where Moonlight is leading with this. -Moonlight walks her fingers along the rock, "It would be much more convincing if I was running for my life and somewhat injured when I make my appearance, don't you think?" She grins. "I would need someone that wouldn't be squeamish at doing some damage, but that I trust enough not to try ending my existance prematurely..." -Whiplash's tentacles undulate around her. She nods, understanding. "Did that once before, I think I was pretty convincing at it," she recalls. -Moonlight nods her head. "I just don't want convincing, I want it to be real. As much as you don't like the Autobots, they aren't stupid enough to fail to notice that I have no wounds once they actually 'rescue' me. I'll have to do a little more studying to get the part down pat, but I'm willing to go through some physical pain to make certain that their chances of suspecting me are way down low." -Whiplash asks, "You want me to actually lay into you?" Now this somewhat bothers her. -Moonlight grins again. "Of course." She puts a hand to her head. "How could they doubt the poor victim of a viscious attack by that Decepticon Whiplash? They will be so busy seething in anger over your attack, they won't be in the mindset to think I'm something other than what I appear." -Whiplash says, "Alright then. I guess I can manage that." -Moonlight seems satisfied with that. "I might not get the job after all, but it's just an idea I had. You can't say something is an illusion if it isn't, and you have a unique style that isn't easily duplicated as far as I can tell." She shrugs. "But I guess we'll have to see. I'm not actually a spy or anything, so there are people out there more quallified than I am. But I pride myself on having a different perspective than most, which can be an advantage." -Whiplash inclines her head. "Different ways of getting results. Works for me." -Moonlight smiles oddly. "And it might convince some people that I'm not a spy or a traitor. Honestly, would someone like that risk being slashed up by you? I don't think so. Your skills aren't exactly taken lightly by others." -Whiplash for a moment looks pleased at that, then rumbles a soft growl. "You're not a spy or a traitor. Some people need to get their optics in straight." -Moonlight nods her head. "That's what I keep saying. But rumors can kill a person whether they be true or false. I've seen this from experience." -Whiplash says, "You know, maybe ... those rumors could be an advantage for you." -Moonlight gives Whiplash half of an odd look. "Oh? How so?" -Whiplash says, "Well, if the *Bots* think you're not loyal to us, they might be willing to slip up more in your presence." -Moonlight nods. "I might not need a disguise then. I could get chased off by you anyhow, with the cuts and stuff of course, and say that I've been accused of all these things and they want me dead and hope that they'll take me in...it could be dangerous because not every Con could know about it...but the Bots are known for their foolish sympathy, are they not?" -Whiplash's tentacles pick up the pace a little. "Dangerous," she decides. "*Might* work, but it might not. And even if it does, your cover's blown afterwards. If you can stay in a gray area, you can chat up the 'Bots in Dead End City and pick up bits and pieces now and again. Otherwise, it's a one-shot." -Moonlight chuckles. "My charming personality and dashing good looks will compensate for that." She sobers down a bit. "But war isn't exactly safe. I can't sit back and let others take all the risks. I'm a botch at heavy combat, so I must risk myself in other ways. Besides, I always have the habit of keeping an ace up my armor." -Whiplash nods. "Just let me know when you need me to step in." -Moonlight shrugs. "Right now everyting is just speculation. But the higher ups listen to you, don't they? If you see a good window of opportunity, let them know that I'm willing to take action. They might listen to you." -A brief scowl passes Whiplash's reptilian features. "Enfilade listens, anyway," she says. "Ghost, sometimes. Shockwave ... forget it." -Moonlight blinks her hidden optics. "Shockwave doesn't listen to you specifically, or everyone in general? -Whiplash's optics flash a little brighter, a trace of indefinable disgust in her tone. "I don't know who he listens to these days." -Moonlight shrugs. "I've talked with him once. He doesn't seem like a bad sort...only terribly dull. How can someone lead others when they have no concept of what makes us unique. If we all followed logic to the extent he does, we would all be the same person." -Whiplash in spite of herself bristles a little. "*Dull*?" she demands, then bites back any further response. "Well, I might put it a little different." -Moonlight grins broadly. "How /would/ you put it?" -Whiplash's optics narrow a little and the tentacles pick up their pace a notch. The formerly so-content MedusaSaur is suddenly aggravated, as though some sore subject has been breached. "Never mind," she growls. -Moonlight just nods her head. "Dull it is then." -Whiplash's growl dies out into a deep rumble in her throat as her optics glower out from the shadows. -Moonlight slides down and leans back against her smaller rock, seemingly undisturbed by Whiplash's reaction. She sighs slightly. -Whiplash drops down into the shadows at the base of her boulder. "Got a patrol to run," she announces without further explanation, and the twin lights of her purple optics blink out in the shadows as she turns away and is gone. -Moonlight watches Whiplash leave with another sigh.