September 10th, 2002 ~Jynx(D), Whiplash(D), Razelore(D) Moonlight's Door (#566n) Colorful could be a word to describe this barracks room. The walls are covered of many pictures of many different planets (none are on Cybertron)...most of them in bars and containing the same mech over and over. The room is littered with odds and ends and couldn't truly be called neat, though there appears to be some sort of purpose to all the clutter. There's a recharge bed, but unless it's being used, it is also most likely covered in junk. There are probably many little well-hidden hidey holes in this room, but anyone interested in them would have to both wade through the junk and have a keen set of optics. -Jynx moves to knock on Moonlight's door and finds it just slides open. He takes this as an invitation to enter and does so. His optic band dims and he asks quietly, "Miss Moonlight?" -Moonlight is lying curled up on her bed like a child who fell asleep crying. Her optics are half open and staring at the wall on the opposite end of the room. Her hat is lying on the bedside table and looks like it will fall off at the slightest nudge. Her gun and her whip are lying on the floor. As Jynx enters she glances at him for a moment before returning her gaze to the wall. "Yes?" -You hear a knock on the door from outside. -Moonlight glances at the door. "Come in." -Jynx walks over to her recharge bed and moves to sit on the edge of it if possible. As he does he scoops up her hat and moves his audiosensors back so he can wear it, slidingit on so he almost seems to have an expression of sadness as it casts some shadow to his facepanel. "You alright?" He is trying to act... goofy to try and inspire some mirth in her... by fiddling with her hat which looks akward on him. -Moonlight smiles slightly, but she doesn't look directly at Jynx yet, seeming to be facinated by that wall over there. "Physically I'm fine..." -Whiplash edges a little cautiously into the room, sidling through a barely-opened door and peering inside. -Jynx is sitting on Moon's recharge bed, at the edge. He has on her hat in a goofy looking way and seems to be trying to get her to smile or atleast show some emotion besides sadness but not doing to good a job, "... I managed to blast that kid acting bot and that other one a bit before they got away you know.. we could probably hunt them down and finish them later if you want?" -Whiplash gives Jynx a bit of an odd look, wearing Moonlight's hat as he is. She's about to make some teasing comment, but is brought up short by a look at Moonlight. Her tentacles curl forward and around herself. "Hey," she says quietly. "Last night messed you over pretty bad, hm?" -Moonlight rolls onto her back then half sits up, curling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She look at Jynx. "I told you, I'm not a hunter," she says in a rather dry tone. She glances over to Whiplash. "Yeah, you could say that...." -Whiplash steps forward a little. "I am," she says. "Listen, do you know what *happened*?" -Jynx murmers, "You don't have to be, I am not exactly one either compaired to others... but I think I understand what you mean." He moves to take the hat off and lay it onto her head from the side, "..." He says nothing and offers her comfert in the simple act of being here since he isn't sure how to any other way really. -Moonlight shakes her head. "By the time I got there he was already....I heard Hyperdrive say that he had killed him...and I had to go. I didn't really think it was a trap, not by the sinking feeling the words gave me." She shudders slightly. "I couldn't convince him...he died before I could." Moonlight burries her face in her knees. -Jynx bristles and wishes he had managed to blast that kid but that energy forcefeild deflected most of his blasts. He shoves aside his feelings of rage however and asks, "Convince him of what Moonlight?", he questions in as soft a tone he can... -Whiplash emits a growl, a glint of fangs flashing in her dark face. "Killed by a damn Autobot *brat*!" she hisses. "I shoulda hauled him into the arena and made him stay there till he could use a weapon on more than a fallen victim!" It's a refrain she's repeated often enough about Psykeout, and one might almost think she partially blames herself here, were she not to add in anger, "Almost serves him right." -Moonlight doesn't lift her head. "Mabye the Bot was right...I don't know...he said he wanted it. He had told me as much before, but he was rarely honest with me. Last I heard from him, he was still not believing in me..." -Whiplash mutters, "Stupid bastard. What'd he do, stand there and let the brat shoot at him till he fell over?" She seems quite outraged by this concept. -Jynx shakes his head and says with a firm tone, "Whiplash." He looks up and flashes his optic brand breifly. This subject is clearly causing Moon distress despite how he would agree that Psy was rather foolish for not calling for backup or anything. He asks Moonlight quietly as his gaze drifts down again to her, "Didn't belive in you?" -Whiplash scowls, but mutters, "Sorry. Listen, I was trying to help him too. Just makes me mad that it was all for nothing." -Moonlight finally looks back up, her optics blazing way too bright. "He thought I was a spy!!!" Her voice is painfully loud. -Whiplash shakes her head, and sighs. "Alright, he was pretty screwed up. But still...." -Moonlight shakes her head violently. "If he's dead then he died thinking I was the bad guy....but I'm not....I wouldn't do anything to betray the Cons...wouldn't betray him. I tried to help him, but now I can't...Hyperdrive made sure of that.........." -Jynx tilts his head, "Then he never knew you." He says it simply as if it was a fact, "Despite how you greive for him, he would not for you as a cybertronian. So ask yourself if the wasted energy is worth it... morning him as such rather then as a Decepticon. Even if he was a fool, he was one and deserves to have those who killed him cease to function. Spend your energy on that rather then being sad that he couldn't or didn't want to see beond what was on the surface." -Whiplash says, "Hey, you know...." she finds a place to sit near the bed, musing, "he didn't exactly have a stellar record himself. Came outta some questionable circumstances. Maybe he felt like *he* didn't quite belong. Hell, I've heard that from him more than once. So he was looking for someone else that he could imagine to be less trustworthy than he was. Or than he thought we thought he was. Er ... if that makes sense." -Razelore transmits: 'Report Location.'. -Moonlight makes a low noise. At first it sounds like she is crying again, but as it gets louder, it's clear she is laughing....and she is laughing long and hard, so much that she is shaking. "He hated that I was so happy...and it hurt an awful lot...why should I be blamed because I'm not miserable. But if the Bots think it's going to ruin me, it won't, I won't let it. I'll just keep smiling and smiling and smiling until my face hurts if I have to." She laughs for a bit longer, then descends back into sobs, despite the large, fake smile on her face. -You transmit '*Moonlight is too busy laughing/crying hysterically to answer at the moment.*' to Razelore. -Razelore transmits: 'I can make that a direct order...'. -Whiplash casts a bit of an uncertain look at Jynx. She's not the most adept individual in these situations. Tentatively she places a hand on Moonlight's forearm. -You transmit '*It sounds like she's trying to respod, but doing a very bad job of calming herself down.*' to Razelore. -Moonlight seems to be trying to speak into her radio, but she's just not coherrant enough at the moment to say anything into it. -Jynx looks to Whiplash, at a loss as well... he finaly notices something and asks, "Who is radioing you Miss Moon?" He tilts his head offering her his undevided attention. -Moonlight can only seem to get the word "Raze" out between sobs. Razelore says, "Computer, report Moonlight's location." -Whiplash's optics narrow a little. "You're not likely to get a whole lotta sympathy from *that* guy," she mutters. -Jynx doesn't know the name and looks to Whiplash.. "Madam?" Why DOES her call her that? Lets hope she never finds out. -Whiplash doesn't even react with a scowl this time, her attention on the matter at hand. "Razelore. Intel Commander. Never could figure that guy out." -Moonlight continues to keep making those horrible, wracking sobbing sounds. Lieutenant Moonlight is currently in her quarters. *BEEP* -Jynx murmers, "I thought Solar was?" He then moves to the door suddenly as he figures the commander is coming.. and readys to head him off. -Whiplash says, "Shhh ... come on, listen. Picture Hyperdrive's head mounted on your wall right over there. Would that help?" -Moonlight just shakes her head, but says nothing....if you remember, she always was a little odd about collecting body parts... -Whiplash glances at Jynx. "Solar? No, he's just the one with his fingers in all the pies. I figure Razelore pulls the strings in the end. Somehow I never really trusted the guy, can't pin him down. But, maybe that's what it takes to be Intel commander." -Razelore transmits: '*Knock Knock*'. -Jynx says, "Hmm figures.... I like Solar he is... a friend. I would almost rather be intel if someone like him where in charge then a guard. Not if this Raze guy is like you say though.." -Jynx is blocking the entrance.. big boxy.. walk through him if you can. -Razelore knocks on the door, "Excuse me, femmes." -Whiplash stands as the knock sounds, unobtrusively positioning herself between Moonlight, lying on her recharge bed, and Raze at the door, the tentacles coiling around her form and her optics somewhat wary. -Razelore scowls at the sound of sobbing. A small datapad on his left arm becoming active, he types in something with his right hand. -Whiplash tilts her head a little. Despite the opinion she just shared with others in the room about the latest arrival - basically that she never quite trusted him because she couldn't figure him out - her tone remains appropriate to the address of a division commander. "Raze," she ventures, "maybe this isn't such a good time. Moonlight's a little ... under the weather." -Jynx watches Razelore. He then speaks up despite the fact Raze has higher rank, "Excuse me, sir. There is a personal matter being delt with... -please- wait outside?" He slowly crosses his arms and awaits the others answer. -Moonlight glances up to see what's going on, and her sobs slowly stop. -Razelore raises an optic ridge, "Very well, I will adress them later." -Razelore nods to those assembled, "Ladies," he turns to the large blocky mech, "Jynx, I bid you good cycle," he slides out of the door and is gone. -Moonlight watches Razelore go without a word. -Whiplash relaxes a little and settles down again. "Wonder what that was all about," she mutters. -Jynx watchs and tilts his head, "... I wonder." He seems to have some idea maybe of what it was but keeps it to himself for now. Pointless speculation and all as he walks back over after shutting the door with a press of a button, "Atleast he was polite... madam." -Whiplash scowls at Jynx. -Moonlight sighs, but seems much calmer now. "Thanks for your concern..." -Jynx flashes his optic a shade brighter at the growl.. and then again as he looks to Moonlight, "You were concerned for me when that bucket of sludge dropped on Shockwave and I was blamed." -Whiplash sighs. "I can see why you're upset about all this. All that wasted potential. But you know - sometimes there's nothing you can do, no matter how you try. Doesn't mean you stop trying with the next one." -Moonlight manages a half smile. "I don't plan on giving up. I don't break so easily...I have this habit of bouncing back. But I just need a little time, I'm sure of it." She seems much more coherrant now, but her optic ridges are still drawn together in an expression of emotional pain. -Whiplash says, "It's like you said. Don't let the Autobots take away your ability to be happy. 'Cause then they've destroyed *two* 'Cons, not just one." -Jynx moves to put on the hat again so it shades his face. He then blinks his optic band on and off as he speaks up joking on their just sitting here in the room, "Such illogical wastes of time. Shouldn't you all be out doing something constructive? Hail Megatron! Hail Cybertron! Hail ... Energon!" Bad Shockwave impressions anyone? Ok so he hasn't quite developed his humor chipset.. he hasn't really had the time. -Moonlight laughs a little, it isn't the full laugh or hearty chuckle that is her usual, and it's a little dry and forced, but it is still a laugh. "I don't think that hat is you, Jynx." She holds out her hand for it. -Whiplash winces just slightly at the Shockwave impression. -Jynx notices this and looks towards Moonlight looking puzzled a moment as he hands the hat back to her, "..." Someone told him something that doesn't quite match the situation right now and finaly he looks to Whiplash, "Was my impression that bad Madam? -Whiplash says, "Er, no. Never mind. And quit calling me Madam!" Whiplash stands, looking toward the door. -Moonlight takes the hat and shakes her head. "Don't call her that...don't call me that either. In fact, take it out of your vocabulary Jynx. I don't know anyone who likes to be called that." She sighs. "I suppose I've been making a fool of myself then?" -Whiplash glances back at Moonlight. "How do you figure?" -Moonlight wipes her face. "Carrying on the way I have. I guess people die an awful lot around here...and I don't see people constantly wailing like I have." She shrugs, putting her hat back on her head. "But I have to tell you something, I've never killed anyone before, and I've never completely lost anyone before. I know Swipe is missing, but I don't know he is dead for sure...I never saw his body broken and dead lying next to the one who killed him..." -Whiplash folds her arms, braiding a few tentacles around them. "Some deaths hit you harder than others," she acknowledges. "Some losses you never quite get over." *Which* ones, in her own personal experience, she's not willing to share, of course. -Jynx glances to Whiplash and seems to want to say something as for a moment a unreadable expression crosses his face. He then turns suddenly and heads out, "I think I should go on patrol ... " He seems to relize he did something wrong but just doesn't know what or maybe guesses at what.. as he steps outside hurriedly adding before he does, "You will fight on though Miss Moon, for them. I know you are strong enough to survive and fight on for them." -Moonlight shakes her head. "And they say politeness is a virtue. Miss Moon indeed." She grins for a moment, but it doesn't stick. Her face goes back to a frown. -Whiplash says, "You going to be alright if I had out too? Someone's gotta watch the borders." -Moonlight nods her head, adjusting her hat slightly so that it's perfect. "I'll be fine. I should probably get out of my room anyhow...brooding isn't healthy from what I've heard." -Whiplash says, "Probably not. Action's good. I don't know if anyone's put out an official report on what happened last night, but I'll take care of it, don't worry about it." -Moonlight just nods her head. She seems much better now, as she said, she has a habit of bouncing back. But she also gives the impression that this will leave its mark on her, that she'll never quite be the same old Moonlight again.... -Whiplash looks her over in another moment of silence, then nods as well. "You know where to find me," she says, the offer standing open but not added verbally, 'if you need to talk or any such thing.' She turns and slips out, the door shutting quietly behind her. -Moonlight stays in her room for a bit, optics closed. ================================= Decepticon ================================= Message: 10/7 Posted Author Psykeout's Fate Tue Sep 10 Whiplash ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Whiplash appears, not looking happy, but seeming rather more angry than upset. Or at least having channeled her own feelings of blame into a controlled, externally-directed anger, like a brittle shell around her as she speaks...) This is third-hand info, so I don't know exactly what happened, but I did see the body after it was all too late. Apparently Psykeout went and got himself killed out at the Crossroads. By that *Autobrat*! (optics flash momentarily brighter in indignation) From what little I could piece together, outta what Moonlight heard from his killer, he must've just stood there and taken it, 'cause even Psykeout's rotten combat skills should've finished off that little wretch. I know Jynx went after him when we got to the scene, but he got away. If I knew what was going through Psykeout's mind before this happened, maybe it could've been prevented. But when was anyone ever able to figure *that* out? (in a gesture of disgust, she stabs at the "off" button, a few muttered words still being caught by the recorder before the screen goes dark...) Shoulda *made* him learn how to fight, dammit.... ============================================================================== -You transmit 'Do you still need to talk with me sir?' to Razelore. -Razelore transmits: 'No I was simply ...concerned, yes concerned for your condition.'. -You transmit 'I'm more or less better now...thank you for inquiring then. *her tone is neutral, not exactly thankful, but not sarcastic or doubting either*' to Razelore. -Razelore transmits: 'Very good, if, hmmm, if you need more time to... to grieve, alert me and I shall inform your commander.'. -You transmit 'I don't think I need more time away from work...work might be the best thing for me now. *there's a pause* It was an Autobot who caused the problem in the first place...and since the job of Cons seems to be to make trouble for them, then I suppose it stands to reason that work would be best...' to Razelore.