November 4th, 2002 ~Darkstorm(D), Omnisaber(D), Hyperdrive(A), Derelict(A), Firesong(D), Darkmount - Launch Platform Forcibly hewn out of the side of a raised mountain, this sturdily constructed platform is large enough to accommodate several ships and still allow enough room for the arriving and departing patrols of Decepticon seekers. Crafted of solidly forged chunks of Durillium, it has been made to withstand the tests of time and battles. Around the edges of the platform are various anti-aircraft batteries and entrenched watch posts for defense drones, should anyone ever be foolish enough to attempt an attack from the air, or intrepid enough to risk approaching the Decepticon stronghold from the nearly impossible climb below. Decepticon Shuttle Obvious Exits: -U- Up leads to Sky Above Tarn -D- Down leads to Darkmount - Elevator Shaft Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "Decepticon perimeter patrols report progression" Omnisaber says, "Listen, I don't know who's on this channel, but if you want to patrol something, come down to the Deadlands. Looks like it'll be an interesting skirmish." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "explain" Omnisaber says, "Let's see, I'm here, and so are some 'Bots. We're having a fight. Need I say more? Standard infantry response used to be to check it out..." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "foolish" Lieutenant Moonlight pipes up, "Are you winning though?" Omnisaber says, "Nope. Infantry are foolish. As for winning? I'm...doing okay, thanks for asking. Who is that with the lovely voice?" Lieutenant Moonlight chuckles. "Well, I don't think it's Darkstorm." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "funny" Lieutenant Moonlight says, "I do my best." Omnisaber says, "Mmm...well, let's save the idle chit chat for later. Right now, I'd LIKE to handle this border problem." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "keep it up.." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Who, me or him?" Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "You are presently in autobot territory" Omnisaber says, "You are presently out of your freakin' core. It's neutral land. Go look at a map, damned infantry...always slagging not keeping up..." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "I'd say keep this up and I'll slag you myself!" Omnisaber says, "Infantry...always big on words, small on following through. If you really think this is Autobot land, do yourself a favour infantry slag, and run home to Darkmount." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Ummmmmm, Omni, I don't think he likes the way you're talking to him..." Omnisaber says, "Omni? Oh right...well, the fragger doesn't need to like anything. He's inconsequential to my plans." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "Omnisaber, one more disrespectfull tone and you can find yourself in medbay." Lieutenant Moonlight's blink is almost audible. "Are you not feeling well...you don't sound like your usual self." Omnisaber says, "Talk about this afterwards, whoever you are. Need to cut down the idle chit chat on this fragging broadband." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Who am I? What sort of question is that?" Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "Moonlight, what is Omnisaber's division?" Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "where has he been stationed?" Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Last I heard he was in intel. Why'd you ask?" Omnisaber says, "I mean, femme with the lovely voice, I don't know who are to be honest." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "I think your presence here would be much appreciated, I'll try and calm these botscraps down. Before he gets slagged." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "I don't like this game you're playing..." Omnisaber says, "Hey, infantry mech. Do me a favour, firstly, put the gun away before you hurt yourself. Secondly, get out of here, you're proving to be more of a hinderance than a help." Lieutenant Moonlight sighs auidbly. "Fine. I'm on my way." Omnisaber says, "Game *I* am playing? I'm not playing any game...least not in the traditional sense..." Lieutenant Moonlight can be heard over the sound of helicopter blade. "Yeah, whatever. I'll be there shortly." 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. Darkstorm [Robot] [D] Firesong [Robot] [A] Derelict [Robot] [A] Omnisaber [Robot] [D] Hyperdrive [Robot] [A] 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 -The sound of a chopper can be heard in the distance. As it grows louder those down below can see the arrival of a black helicopter with dark blue blades approaching. No symbol of alliegance graces this vehicle. -Hyperdrive makes a face, "I'm okay. Just got gutted a little..." -Omnisaber nods softly to Derelict gesturing towards the kidlet, "And he's my concern too at this moment. However, you should realize that having one as young as him, protecting neutral land in the name of the 'Bots is quite irresponsible of your leadership. All the same...I'm not being naive. Neutral ground exists for simple civilians to continue to go about their business, regardless of the war we inflict upon them...Derelict, one cycle I hope we can chat like we used to in the old days, right now though doesn't seem to be a good time, because as we all know, infantry slag for core units always show up and don't take hints very well." turning to Darkstorm, "You're fragging out of your core, as I said. Listen Mr. Infantry. YOU stand down. We're not here to fight over a small bit of fragging land. Pointing a weapon at me isn't smart whatsoever. Put it away. Let them go home. We go home. Simple misunderstanding. Understand....?" -Darkstorm lowers his rifle a little at the notice of incoming company. "Autobots. I fully apollogize for his disregard and act of foolisch decisions, he's new to the Decepticon cause and has much to learn." Omnisaber says, "Hey infantry. Name, rank, serial number. Want to make sure I get everything into my report." -Cargo-Copter finally makes a landing behind the Decepticons. Slowly her blades come to a complete stop, lessening the noise they make. "What's going on here?" it asks, sounding rather irritable. -Firesong glides around the last piece of rubble that was providing cover for her path. She seems to hold no weapon, although the air around her hands glow faintly. She crouches next to Hyperdrive, looking at the wounds in concern. "Still getting into trouble?" she murmurs, although not expecting him to remember her. She has no medical ability, save being around a pack of siblings and being the only femme. Someone would always be getting hurt. -Derelict smiles gently at Hyperdrive, and lightly touches a practiced hand to the injury, finding the most damaged areas. Absently he reaches to his 'belt' and opens a compartment, removing a container of liquid sealant that he carefully applys to the slashes and cuts, closing them up temporarily while speaking,"You'll be fine, son. Don't worry. We'll get you back and as good as new." He glances to the Decepticons with a slight shake of his head,"Do not engage a mech of unknown capabilities without alerting your comrades, boy. Basic wisdom of combat. It'll keep you alive some day." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "Who me?" -Darkstorm shakes his head at Omnisaber and looks back at the Autobots then looks at Derelict. "Could you explain me the entire situation?" -Omnisaber smiles at Derelict's words and nods, "See, that's more the Derelict I knew...by the by kid, take that advice to your core. Words to live by really." turning to Darkstorm, "Holy slag. I don't believe you just said what you did. Not. At. All. But that's okay...I've got time to think about things later..." looking at all the people gathered and just smiling to himself, chuckling softly and muttering something to himself, something about 'figured it'd go down like this...' before casually turning away from all of them, and starting to just walk away, oblivious to anything going on, or seemingly. Omnisaber says, "Yes...you. You who seem to be becoming too friendly to the 'Bots for a mere infantry unit." -Moonlight would shake her head if she had one at the moment. But some things really /do/ need a head shaken at them, so she transforms to make that expression possible. And to add to that, she puts her hands on her hips and glances disapprovingly at Omnisaber..."What /is/ going on here?" Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "You just watch your mouth before I make slag of you..kid." Omnisaber says, "Kid? KID??? Hah. I don't THINK so. I still remember serving with Megatron, so I doubt I'm some kid. I don't need to watch my mouth, and you should learn not to threaten officers you know nothing about. Name, rank, serial number. In fact, don't bother. I'll check the personnel files when I get back to Darkmount." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Oh just shut your yaps, both of you, and pay some attention to me or the Bots will think that I don't exist...I can handle the shots, but I had to be thought of as a noneity." -Darkstorm puts his rifle away before he really goes off against someone and just tries to calm down and ease. Then walks up towards Moonlight. "You deal with this sorry excuse of a Decepticon. I will however have a small talk with Shockwave!" then walks on towards a clearing. -Omnisaber stops in his tracks, turning back, sighing softly to himself, muttering under his breath, "Shockwave...was he the one...?" before turning back to look at Moonlight but with a curious look, one of freshness and of uncertainty, "Yesss...?" -Moonlight throws up her hands in disgust. "Whatever," and watches Darkstorm stalk off. Then she moves towards Omnisaber, who is acting sort of feverish in her opinion. Ever since that horrible experience up in space, she had been keeping to herself, but she knew she couldn't stay alone forever. She turns to face Omnisaber more fully. "What's gotten into you anyhow? Causing all this trouble?" -Derelict glances back wryly once more, but chooses not to combat on the Imperial troops, instead returning his attention to Hyperdrive and giving Firesong a nod of greeting,"Perhaps it is time that the two of you depart for Iacon, hmm? You can help him to get there, yes, madam?" -Omnisaber quirks an optic ridge at Moonlight, cocking his head slightly, "Sorry...do I know you? And what trouble? No trouble was caused here...unless you mean an infantry unit doing their usual 'holier than thou' impression." -Hyperdrive makes a face, "We're not goin back without you Derelict...." -Firesong frowns. "Yes... certainly I can get him back... but... leaving you here by yourself?" She glances at the others, still closer than should be comfortable. The attention is no longer on them, but it does not quite appear that things are over, either. -Moonlight shrugs. "Are you a body theif or something? Last time I checked you were Omnisaber and I was Moonlight. You were the sweet talker, and I was the trouble-maker...but I could be mistaken of course." Her tone is clearly sarcastic, the sarcasm born of irritation. Ghost says, "Report current perimeter breech situation. All available mechanisms report locations. And cease with the caterwauling. this channel is for factual, logical reporting." Omnisaber says, "I completely concur with that statement." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "It's a breech from ourside, into Autobot territory." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Then I should never talk here again. But besides that, I'm out in the Deadlands with Omnisaber..." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "I just went in to see, leaving now." -Derelict only laughs softly,"Nightblade was a dangerous enough fellow for the time, but so was I. I can still take care of myself. And besides, I have no intention of staying either. I simply shall not be returning to Iacon at this point in time. I have... somewhere I need to visit." -Moonlight turns for a moment to face the mech. "Night...who?" -Omnisaber shakes his head and merely forces an obviously fake smile to Moonlight, "Nononono...I'm sure he said Omnisaber. The two sound SOOOOOO familiar...listen, Moonlight was it..let's just head on over to the local bar, and we'll just sit and talk. Like old times? Huh?" -Darkstorm engine's ignite as a loud bang breaks the soft silence as they burst open and a flame burst comes out of the exhausts. The ship softly increasing his power as it makes himself loose from the surface. -Hyperdrive frowns, "No, I don't want ta leave you out here." -Moonlight nods her head to Omni, then turns to face the Bot types, and the mech with them. "Will you let us leave, or will you persist on making a fuss?" -Omnisaber turns to the 'Bots assembled, including Derelict, "You've got my word, for whatever it's worth, that as long as I'm the one functioning, Derelict shall be safe here. At least while I'm around...I have no intentions of starting any sort of battle here. Period." Ghost says, "None of that answers the question, gentlemechs and lady. Report on the situation. is it being resolved without difficulty?" -Darkstorm floating in the air his landinggear retract as they disappear within the hull of the ship and it raises into the air while at a altitude way above the structures the wings take back their X form. Omnisaber says, "Affirmative Lady Ghost. It's being resolved. Nothing to be concerned with." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "It seems on the verge of turning out okay." Ghost says, "Excellent." Aerial Strategist Darkstorm says, "Sorry Ghost, I just don't have any assesment on that part, though it looks resolved from up here." Ghost says, "Understood, Darkstorm." -Firesong gives a soft sigh. "I'm not going to be able to take him in, if he insists on not going. I certainly can't toss him over my shoulder and tote him along." She smiles brightly to Derelict. "Of course if you helped me to bring him back, before heading off on your visit..." -Moonlight shrugs. The Bots don't seem /that/ interested in fighting right now. In fact, they seem more interested in leaving than she is. She turns back to Omnisaber...or whoever he is. "Sure. Bar sounds good." -Derelict siiiighs softly, shaking his head and smiling just a little,"Very well then. If it will make the both of you happy, I shall at least return with the both of you to the Fortress City." -Omnisaber turns to Derelict and gives a small salute of sorts, "Derelict...you take care of yourself. Take care of those 'Bots too. I don't think you and I will ever meet again...but it was nice getting at least one last good bye." -Derelict inclines his head in turn to 'Nightblade',"And you as well. It would seem you are also dead in your own way, but by now I'm at least used to that. May you find your road to be one leading you to happiness." -Omnisaber nods softly, "And the same to you as well, dare I say, old friend. Until we meet in the afterlife, assuming we make it that far." with that, turning to walk towards the West, hoping that Moonlight follows. -Moonlight gives the Bots a little wave, something rather frivilous, and follows Omnisaber. -Firesong ducks her head a little sheepishly... well, hey, the tactic worked and will at least get the kidlet closer to repairs. Then as the other mech's attention is drawn away, she murmurs to Hyper, "Now, can we get you back and fixed?" 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. Omnisaber [Robot] [D] Obvious Exits: -O- Out leads to Dead End - North Strip -Omnisaber stands outside the door to the Surge after the incredibly long walk, and half bowing, gestures for the femme to enter first. -Moonlight enters before Omnisaber, her optics alert. He's certainly been acting weird today, and this makes her cautious. She finds a nice little booth, her favorite actually, and takes a seat. -Omnisaber follows Moonlight even more cautiously, looking around, and being extra careful around all the patrons, as he takes a seat across from her. -Moonlight folds her arms on the table in front of her and looks at Omnisaber. "So, what's your story?" -Omnisaber smiles and shakes his head slightly, "Sorry miss, which story was it that you wanted?" -Moonlight smiles slightly. "Any story." The smile drops for a moment. "But more specifically why you don't seem to be who I think you are..." -Omnisaber pulls a small datapad out of subspace, and presses a few buttons on it, before smiling, and looking over at Moonlight nods softly, "Fair enough. You ARE intel afterall, or so it would say here according to your personnel file. I'll be blunt. I'm not exactly who you think I am. While the mech who cares for you deeply is still in here, I'm the mech that had to die so he could have a core. To be blunt." -Moonlight arches an optic ridge at the very familiar stranger sitting across from her. This new hat of hers doens't hide her expression as well as the old one..."So, why did you pick now to pop up?" -Omnisaber shrugs softly, all emotion being wiped from his face, "I couldn't honestly tell ya. I'm not an engineer or scientist, Ciel is...rather was..." shakes his head, "My guess is that there was an audio cue from her while we were on the Aphelion." -Moonlight shudders, trying to repress her memory of that place. She hadn't been strong enough to make it through on her own, and she had shut down rather than face her own guilt. But she didn't want to talk about that now. "Will Omnisaber come back, or do you not know that either?" -Omnisaber says, "Beautiful, I don't even know if I'll still be around when he comes back. I'm pretty sure he will, though I'm not sure how. Are you two...close?" -Moonlight seems to consider this question for a while. "On the verge of it perhaps. We're sort of in that undefinded place in any relationship where the possibilities are many and varried. That make any sense?" -Omnisaber smirks and nods his head up and down slowly, "All too well. Either way, he's a lucky mech to have you in any such sense, least from what I can see of you, and figure out about you. Regardless, I'm pretty sure there's some way for him to get back....listen, I asked if you were close, because I have a 'letter' of sorts to give him, but since I can't give it to him, well...perhaps I could give it to you, to give to him when he DOES get back." -Moonlight shrugs. "Sure, I can take it." She winks slightly. "But are you sure you can trust me...I am intel after all. We aren't to be trusted by anyone, even our nearest and dearest, or so say the gossips." -Omnisaber shrugs, "He obviously cares about you, otherwise he wouldn't have left so many notes about you in his files. Besides, I was former intel...truth of the matter is, we know full well we can trust our own - ESPECIALLY those we care about." slides the datapad across the table to Moonlight, smiling, "There you go." -Moonlight takes up the datapad and tucks it away. In many intel the curiosity and desire to look at another person's letter might have been nearly impossible to control, but Moonlight didn't give a second thought about it. For someone who never thought of herself as a /good/ person, she certainly had a lot of ethics. "So, you're someone other than Omni running around in his body, and the higher-ups are just fine with this?" -Omnisaber shakes his head, "Not necessarily. I'm only running around as him for public functions..." smirks, "For now. As for being fine with it? No...but for the moment, nobody is sure how to get Omnisaber back...personally, I think things'll be back to normal soon enough - not that I'm sure what normal is." -Moonlight frowns slightly. "But don't you want to stay?" -Omnisaber shrugs softly shaking his head, "Not really. I'm long dead. My comrades are long dead now. The love of my life is dead. Not much to live for. 'Cons have changed..." -Moonlight fidgets slightly. "Well, of course Cons are different, they let people like me into their fold." She quite deliberately doesn't adress the other points made. -Omnisaber says, "People like you seem to have a good record with the 'Cons. I'm just glad I got to meet you is all." -Moonlight gives a slight laugh. "It doesn't seem to matter who you are, you're still complimenting me." But then she shakes her head, her expression somber. "So you /want/ to leave?" -Omnisaber sighs softly, "I have no reason to stay. I didn't WANT to be here. There's nothing here for me. Besides, if I stay, your friend Omnisaber stays away...do you want that?" -Moonlight shakes her head. "No...but...you remind me too much of someone else, they talked like you...saying that there was nothing left for them, that they wanted to be dead. Do you know what happened?" She pauses for a mere second. "He got his wish." -Omnisaber smirks at Moonlight and just shakes his head, "I don't think you're following. I died. I'm one of the ex-living. I ceased to be a long time ago. The details of how I died are fuzzy...I distinctly remember talking with Shockwave....well, doesn't matter. After that, next thing I remember was being on the Aphelion. To me, death has already happened. I'm dead. I've accepted that. Omnisaber could still have a life...heck, if he's got you around, maybe he's got more than just a little reason. All the same, I appreciate your concern." -Moonlight shrugs. "Considering I've never died before, I can't see things the way you do. But I didn't think life was something that could be used up once and then just tossed away. And you don't like your second chance, which is sad in my optics." She stands up. -Omnisaber sighs, "You don't understand...this isn't necessarily a second chance...if I take it, I take away from someone else...that's not right. I've lived a life...and it ended. It ended violently if I recall correctly...he hasn't lived his whole life. His hasn't ended. If I stay, he stays away as far as I can figure. Is that what you'd want?" -Moonlight shakes her head again. "No, but I'm not you. And maybe I'm just a tad upset to see my own weakness. If I had something I wanted bad enough, I might not care who I took it from. I keep telling people I'm selfish, and they don't believe me." She crosses her arms. "But that doesn't matter. You don't even seem to be trying for other options. If it was possible for you to come back at all, maybe there's a way to continue in some other form." She tosses her head. "But why should I care about you anyhow, I barely know you." -Omnisaber smirks and nods, "True enough. But I want you to understand something...when you lose someone really close to you, someone whom you love, and care about, and whose very existance fuels your own, you don't necessarily want to continue. I died before she did. Not that that affected her in a drastic way....my point is this. If I WERE to come back, and resume duty...well...I don't know. I'm not about to become a part of the Decepticon fold again. Besides, maybe I'm not even me...just residuals of me. I don't really know...I want to be with the femme I loved again. That may or may not happen by me going. Then again, it might." -Moonlight narrows her optics slightly, not from anger, but as though she's trying to see beyond Omnisaber's body and look at the mech that is actually talking to her right now. "If caring for someone has that sort of affect, maybe I should stop myself from doing it. I could become one of those horrid people that just exist to win the war. But I really don't want to think that my existance depends on anyone else's. It hasn't yet." She presses her lips into a firm line. "But if dying again is what you want, then I wish you luck." -Omnisaber sighs and shakes his head, "Fraggit...I don't WANT to die again...but I'm not living now...he's in the background still...he's giving ME time to say my goodbyes. He's being gracious enough to let me finish things I didn't finish off. That's all...I never existed just to win a war...and besides...by truly caring for someone like that it ENRICHES your life...doesn't hamper it..." -Moonlight starts to move away from the table. "I'm feeling suddenly homesick. You can come with me, or stay here. I really don't mean to quarell, but I have a tendancy to struggle with things that upset me." -Omnisaber nods softly, "I'm not feeling like talking any more...sorry to....bah...nevermind...fraggit..." getting up from the table and silently following Moonlight out. -Moonlight makes her way out of the bar. Darkmount - Barracks You step through the large and heavy door into an archaic looking cavern. The natural material of the mountain is very much in evidence here, as not much effort was put into making the army's barracks very attractive. With plasma tools and brute hydraulic power, hundreds of cubicles have been carved out in strangely organized rows throughout the room and at multiple levels. The size of the cubicle is a general indication of the rank of the owner, and you'll notice several larger rooms higher up in the cavern, almost as if they were positioned to watch over the troops below. Tracker's Bunk Novastar's Quarters Moonlight's Door Severed Head Blackwing's Quarters Warblade's Hanger Aviator's Quarters Firestarter's Quarters Marauder's Bunk Nightfire's Quarters Enfilade's Hooch Shadowfrost's Abode Card Table Blitzwing's Quarters Vortex's Chambers Upbeat's Studio Triage's Room Vivisector's Sector Guest Quarters Diktat's Office Grace's Place Dag's Quarters Firewing's Place Clearblade's Quarters