June 22nd, 2003
~Phalanx(U), Ghost(D), Sunspot(U),

Dead End - City Limits

     Large warehouses and factories, rundown though they may be, mark this as Dead End's industrial district. The constant sounds of metal grinding on metal can be heard as the aging machinery of the factories fights to continue functioning as it should. The smell... stench of molten metal, minerals and chemicals fills the air, most emitted by the tall exhaust stacks of the various ore processing plants scattered throughout this industrial wasteland. Occasionally a few stragglers hurry by, either in or out of the city, though always trying to avoid this area. The only others seen here are those unfortunate enough to find this as the only source of employment open to them in the city. They seem to slouch as they plod about, giving the impression of... defeat.


Phalanx [Robot] [U] 
E-So's Refined Energon <ERE> 
Warehouse <3319> 
Empty Building

Obvious Exits:
 -O- Out leads to Trench Floor
 -E- East leads to Dead End - Central Strip

-The traffic here, both vehicle, and foot, is much lighter than in the main section of the city, making it easy to pick out someone like Phalanx, were they actually looking for him. He stands well above most, and unlike many others here, he appears to be in good condition... his paint is fresh and clean, and his armour shows little in the way of damage or decay. He's headed toward the far outskirts of the city, and the warehouse district that one must pass through to leave Dead End.
-Well, it just so happens that Moonlight /is/ looking for Phalanx. Solar told her to, and strangely enough she's listening to him for once. Or maybe he was being sarcastic and she's being perverse. Either way, she's looking for the mech who once commanded the Militia of Crystal City. Carefully she weaves through the crowd, looking for her goal.
-Phalanx, for his part, seems generally uninterested in the crowds. He's become used to them by now, first in Crystal City, and now here, in Dead End. Aside from lifting his gaze occasionally to survey the street ahead, his attention appears to be focused on his seemingly ever-present datapad.
-Moonlight is fairly adept at getting through crowds, especially since the one's here are thinned out. She's been doing it most of her life, which would explain why she's not even /thinking/ about the process involved. She's only really seen Phalanx once, but she remembers what he looks like. Keeping him in her sight, she gets closer and closer.
-As might be expected by now, Phalanx has become somewhat... sensitive to the presence of Decepticons. He makes note of Moonlight with one glance, and is sure to track her progress with subsequent looks. He does, however, seem generally unconcerned, and does nothing to avoid her.
-That isn't surprising considering Moonlight isn't really one of the most intimidating looking 'Cons. Then again, she /did/ attack Phalanx at one point in time. Finally the femme reaches Phalanx, being careful to move towards him from the front and slightly off to the side instead of from behind. He certainly looks well enough equiped to put a good sized hole in her if he thought she was up to no good. "Hello there," she says to him cheerfully. She dosen't know what approach Solar usually uses, so she doesn't bother trying to guess and emulate it. She just goes for it Moonlight style.
-"Greetings," Phalanx replies without breaking step, or showing any inclination of stopping. Or, for that matter, even lifting his head to acknowledge her. No, he's not attempting to avoid her, he merely sees no reason to stop. She interrupted him... she can keep up if she wants. "What is it that you want?" he asks.
-Moonlight hrmphs to herself. How rude! "To talk to you," she answers. Moonlight has never liked being ignored, and she still hasn't figured out which is worse, being ignored or being shot at. She paces after Phalanx as she speaks and then waits for an answer.
-Phalanx nods once, though his optics never leave the datapad in his hand, and his pace doesn't slow. "I'd gathered as much," he replies, "Regarding what, though?" The former militia commander, as anyone who knows him can verify, is rarely one for pleasantries.
-Moonlight is far from losing her temper, but still isn't too pleased. "Solar sent me. Apparently he's talked to you about the matter of Crystal City." She wishes she had asked him for more information, but there just wasn't a chance between being told to talk to Phalanx and all the interruptions that happened afterwards. Well, she's here and she's found him, so she might as well give it a go.
-Phalanx nods again, though this time he spares her a glance through narrowed optics, "Ahh. That one. Yes, we've spoken on the matter. I've informed him that it's not my concern..."
-Moonlight arches an optic ridge. "You prefer hanging around in Dead End? Look, I don't know what all Solar has told you, or all what you've told him, but he's trying to help the situation..."
-Phalanx hehs, shaking his head once. He wastes little energy on excess motion, it seems. "Don't think me so naive, please. The Empire wants the Autobots out of Crystal City because it's beneficial to the Empire first and foremost, and it's easier than doing it themselves. Do not mistake me, it's only practical to make the attempt, and I'd do the same were I in the position to choose a course of action. As it stands, any duty or obligations owed to the city are no more. It's not my concern. As for living here, it's no different than anywhere else."
-Moonlight hmphs out loud this time. So, this guy is one of /those/ people. The type that go by duty and can't see outside it's bounds. "But this place is a dump and Crystal City is so nice. And I don't think you're naive. Solar is certainly an opportunist. And I can't really deny that we can only be benifited by having the Bots kicked out of Crystal City. But it dosen't belong to them. It didn't really belong to us either for that matter. /I/ want Crystal City free just so I can enjoy the sites again. What's so wrong about that?"
-Ghost picks her way through the warehouse district, looking for one in particular. It's been a while.. and she hopes that it is still here.
-Phalanx shakes his head again, looking back to his datapad, "No, it does belong to them. They have the power to hold it. However, the Empire, it would seem, doesn't. At least not without a cost that they're willing to pay. No neutral organization has that power, either. It is, as things stand now, a lost cause. It would benefit you to move on to more practical and attainable goals. If you want sites to enjoy, create them yourselves."
-Ghost hnns as she steps out of an alleyway, coming to the conclusion that she's in the wrong part of town. With a distinctive disgruntled frown, she kicks at some debris, watching with no satisfaction at all as it skids across the main street. "...."
-Moonlight grins despite her frustration. "Sorry, if you want practical you're talking to the wrong femme. Did you really care so little for the city that you used to live in that you wouldn't want it back...not even a little bit? Besides, the Bots only took it cause we took it from you guys in the first place, which was a dumb idea as far as I was concerned."
-Phalanx lifts his gaze as the sharp, if somewhat small sound of metal skidding accross metal briefly interrupts his conversation... He frowns slightly as he pauses, glancing to the source of the sound, and tracing it back to the culprit. Interesting... He looks to Moonlight once again, and replies flatly, "My duty was to the people of the city. First and foremost. Those who chose to make use of my services did so when the city fell. They're gone now, and my obligations are fulfilled. New cities can be built as easily as old ones are destroyed. Learn and move on."
-Ghost continues to scowl to herself, taking the time to look up and down the open street before she steps into it. Catching sight of two personages. she stops and simply peers for a brief moment or three, working to identify them.
-Moonlight narrows her optics slightly, hardly an intimidating expression. "But it's not destroyed, it's still there," she protests, throwing up her arms in frustration. Geez! Doesn't this guy /want/ anything!
-Phalanx looks back to his datapad yet again, asking in way of reply, "And how does that make it different from any other city, any other landmark, or any other objective?"
-Ghost gets an id on the duo.. scowl seriously approaching a frown before she gives one of those, devil may care shurgs and makes her way towards the duo.
-Moonlight shrugs. "I don't know really. Its history maybe? But if you think like that, why did you bother protecting it or the people in it for the first place. So what if you failed the first time, that doesn't make it useless or junk because /you/ couldn't protect it. It's still a nice, pretty city full of people, some of which probably wish that it wasn't in control of the factionals anymore."
-Phalanx thumbs his datpad off, having finally finished whatever it was he was reading, and slips it into an armoured compartment on his upper leg. He looks to the path ahead, keeping his optics focused on some point in the distance. "History is written every day. The current predicament of the city is just another aspect of that, and history will duely record it. For what is lost... well... Not everything can be maintained indefinitely, so you must learn to maintain only that which is important. A city, to my mind, is not."
-Ghost catches up to Moonlight and Phalanx, also catching the tag end of his commentary. A brow shoots upwards, a faint smile on her face, "Everyones definition of Important is based on an induvidual level, Phalanx. However, it is a sign of maturity once ou begin to understand that."
-Moonlight wonders where they dug up this guy. "Well what /is/?" she snaps impatiently. Well /there/ goes diplomacy! And what's worse, Moonlight just realizes that Ghost is here now. That's just /great/! "Um, hi Ghost," she says sheepishly.
-Phalanx allows Moonlight's question to go unanswered, Ghosts intervention having conveniently answered the question as it was being asked. He looks to Ghost now, offering slight nod in way of greeting, a form of respectful familiarity. "Quite true... An idnividual, though, is incapable of securing a city on their own, and in the collective sense of the Empire, a city is an objective, be it strategic or political. Sentimentality comes with great cost in war, and practicality is one of your greatest strengths." He stops, finally, positioning himself to face both of the Decepticons.
-Ghost waves a few fingers at Moonlight, "Am I interrupting one of those deeply fascinating philosophical debates?" she asks, smiling wryly as she nods to Moonlight, tilts her head to Phalanx with a measure of respect. "Collective thought? Group dynamics tends to override induvidual levels of importance for the good of the whole. Not necessarily what is best as usually those that speak the loudest tend to be heard over those that speak quietly."
-Practicality? Is he talking about the same group of Decepticons? Moonlight sometimes wonders about that. Just because Shockwave is all reasonable doesn't mean the rest of the Cons are. Most of them are down right unstable. Oh well. Right now she's also feeling rather snubbed. She asked a legit question, so she just puts her hands on her hips and waits for a response, tapping her foot impatiently all the while. She turns to Ghost. "No, I'm glad you're interrupting. This one," she points to Phalanx, "is way too stuborn."
-Phalanx hehs quietly, "It would seem that that is what it has become, wouldn't it? Unintentionally, I'm sure..." He pauses for a moment, long enough to nod in response to Ghost's statement, "Yes, that's quite true, but it's the only manner in which an effective military can function. In which an Empire can be governed, for that matter. It's an efficient system, if nothing else." He looks to Moonlight as she speaks, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. This one tires easily, doesn't she?
-Ghost's optics glitter, "This one.. to whom you refer to, Mer Moonlight, was one of the more.. arduous instructors to which to have to debate against." She smiles wryly, "I believe it is in his base nature to... illuminate by argument.. Or in this case, by forceing you to think about a question and how you ask it as opposed to expecting an immediate response. Illumination before gratification."
-Moonlight generally has a lot of energy. She can pester most mechs for hours on end. But there's an air of blahness around Phalanx that works on the outgoing femme like some sort of bizarre Kryptonite. "Naw, I think he just /wants/ to be difficult," she declares to Ghost...at Phalanx. She really should be more careful around people she's tried to shoot in the past, especially if those people are well armed. But she's always been very good at throwing caution to the wind.
-It wouldn't be the first time that Phalanx has been described or thought of as 'blah', and it most likely won't be the last. It doesn't bother him, and he appears unwilling to change. "While Ghost's compliment..." ...A point which could be debateable depending on how it was interpreted... Phalanx, however, takes it as one... "may be somewhat exaggerated, I assure you that this is not a position taken out of spite or simply to be contrary."
-Ghost shrugs, "It is simply his way of being, Mer Moonlight. Endearing as well as thoughtful. Not everyone thinks the same." She offers a wry smile to her fellow Decepticon. And the same expression is given to Phalanx, "He is proof positive of that particular statement."
-Moonlight arches an optic ridge. Why does he have to be so serious? "I never said anything about spite. Contraryness, on the other hand...What are you doing now that's so important that you can't give us a hand?" She sighs at Ghost's comment. "Yes, but I'm cuter than he is." There's an impish look on her face that indicates she's not really being serious.
-Phalanx arches a brow of his own at Ghost's final statement, not entirely sure how to take that one. Looking back to Moonlight, he states, "And in reply, I'll have to point out that this is your project, with your motives, and your plans. It's not my job to convince you why I shouldn't take part, it's your job to convince me of its merit and potential success. I remain unconvinced of both."
-Ghost purses her lips and takes a long look at a wall.. "Well.. " she shrugs, "I'm not one that you should ask about levels of cuteness, Moonlight. That's an alien concept to me." Absently dusting non-existant dust off of a forearm, she continues, "I do believe I've missed some portion of this conversation. Enough that I have to be rude and ask for a repitition." She glances at Phalanx, "What kind of.. assistance are you being asked for?"
-Moonlight makes a face. "One of Solar's plans. Though I /do/ wish he would have given me more information. I'm not the best debater in the world. Especially with someone as hardaft as this guy." She shrugs. "It's all about Crystal City."
-"It seems," Phalanx elaborates, "that Solar is looking for a figurehead of some sort, so that the city may somehow be returned to civilian management. Personally, I don't believe it can be accomplished, I've no interest in taking part, and I remain skeptical of his intentions."
-Ghost lifts both brows in skeptical amusement. "Crystal City? Hnn." She shrugs, a momentary glimpse of grimness crossing her expression, "Haven't we caused enough harm and confusion to those that call that place home?"
-Sunspot strolls out of the warehouse looking for her favorite mech that seems to have lost himself. Didn't he say he had no extra time for her? Gonna have to have a talk with him.. scanning around the area she sends a quick message out via radio.
-Moonlight holds up her hands. "Hey, it's not /my/ plan. I'm also going to mention that it wasn't my plan for the Cons to take it in the first place. I liked Crystal City the way it was. It was a much happier place. Solar hadn't been having much luck with his little plan, so I said I'd help, and he told me to start with Phalanx. So I did."
-Sunspot continues walking while waiting a responce from Phalanx, flipping down into her glide car for faster travel. Zipping out of the street connected to their warehouse.
-Phalanx offers a dismissive shrug in response to Moonlight, "'Your' in the general sense. You are here on his behalf, after all. As for whether or not this would do more harm than good... Most likely at this point in time. I would argue that those who chose to remain in the city quite frankly don't care who governs them, so long as they're able to go about their business. I'm not inclined to convince them otherwise. What they want is for them to decide."
-Sunspot flukes out and spots her hunky mech as he stands out on his own, despite being smack in the middle of the street. Noticing two femmes with him sparks her up, but as she heads in a B-Line to their direction she calms down. Not nearly as bad as she used to be. Hearing his radio she disagree's. Plenty of reason to become involved.. and she intends to. Instead of radioing him back, she simply exclaims from behind him before transforming, "Greeting Phalanx!" Her approach completely silent due to her stealthy glide car.
-Ghost frowns.. "Officially.. well.. I think everyone knows the Empires official stance on Crystal city.." she lapses into silece.. then gives a shrug, staring off.
-Moonlight is surprised Solar didn't lose his temper and try to blow Phalanx up. Then again, she always underestimates Solar, and she also thinks she does it on purpose. "Well, lots of people left. Maybe it would make them happy if the city was neutral again. You don't think it's worth the effort to do something nice for people, to make them happy?" Is this actually a Decepticon talking? It would appear so from the sigils. She nods slightly to the femme that just approached, but is too busy to do more than that. "I don't know about official Ghost...I'm just doing what Solar told me to do...for once."
-Sunspot now turns to notice the other two femmes offering a simple, "Hello." She catches that part of the conversation from Moonlight her optics widening with a little surprise, "You want us to have the city again?"
-Phalanx grimaces slightly as Sunspot arrives, offering her a slight nod in way of acknowledgement. "I think that it's for the citizens fo the city to decide what they do and do not want, not members of the Empire. To do otherwise is a blatent attempt at manipulation for personal gain."
-Sunspot plays with her feet until she's smack next to Phalanx's side, barley inches between them. Standing true to her reputation she listens and watches the procedings as close as possible. While Phalanx would love for her to remain silent, she rarley does what he wants her to.
-Ghost shakes her head, "This is a point in the conversation where all I can do is listen. Protocol and all of that proper business ethics."
-Sunspot frowns peering up at Phalanx at this latest comment, "They are not wanting us to go back to Crystal City, are they?" Before giving him a chance to answer, studying the two cons. "If we made Crystal City ~neutral~ again with your assistance, it wouldn't be neutral, would it?"
-Moonlight frowns. Stupid sigil getting in the way of what she wants. She /wants/ CC to be neutral. She pokes her finger at her own symbol. "This isn't trying to help the city," she taps on her chest, "this is."
-Sunspot blinks gold optics studying Moonlight silently before flickering her attention to Ghost as if awaiting an answer like that, or her opinion.
-Ghost shrugs, flicking her attention to Phalanx, "One wonders if answering that particular question, no matter which one I would choose to give, would be a damning response and lead to further argumentive conversation."
-Phalanx hehs, apparently unimpressed at Moonlight's display, "Maybe so... it's not for me to decide, but you can't escape what comes with the emblem you wear. By continuing to wear it, you accept what comes with it." Coming from someone else, that may sound snide, or otherwise intended in a negative manner... or, perhaps, even encouragement to abandon it. It's different, though, when it comes from someone whos' been there. He pauses a moment, tone lowering a bit as he replies, "That depends on who's listening, I think. Most will hear what they want to hear." A rhetorical question, but he answers anyway.
-Sunspot frowns for once controlling what would have been a lippy responce to save Phalanx some embarassment. She has learned. Shrugging with her own black sholders she reaches into a compartment and takes out two data chips, holding them out for Ghost and Moonlight. "Either way. If you need anything, be sure to contact me. Here's my card. I may charge you up the aft, but I'll do a far better job then those lou--" Pausing for a better word, "Unskilled medics you have."
-Moonlight blinks. Unskilled medics? What does /that/ have to do with anything. She looks over at Phalanx. "Just because I am a Decepticon doesn't mean I'm not an individual too. I was Moonlight long before I even knew what a Decepticon /was/. Is it /really/ so hard to comprehend that I want something for the sake of wanting it?" She shakes her head...then remembers again that Ghost is there. Sheesh. It isn't her day.
-Ghost lifts a brow at Phalanx. Then she peers at Sunspot, "It would depend.. on if it were the empires assistance.. or mine. A slight difference to be sure as the emblem I wear is what I pledged to. Myself.. I would far prefer to see the city do without any of the factions involved in it. If we were to assist anyone, the others would retaliate. And only the city itself would suffer. If those dwelling there choose to live as they live, then who are we to dictate otherwise?"
-Sunspot still holds out the cards as if insisting they take one, jiggling her hand a little.
-Phalanx remains unswayed by Moonlight's argument, "What I think or believe matters little. I don't know you well enough to make an assessment. Regardless, the symbol that you wear will always affect what others think of you, be it positively or negatively. It's up to you to decide how to use that, and what's more important to you."
-Sunspot nods in addition to Phalanx's comment. "Just look at Phalanx here. He's an individual but knew he couldn't be one unless he lost the symbol. Now see what great things he's accomplished." Her optics brighten, "Why, I wouldn't be here if he hadn't!"
-Moonlight takes the card rather dubiously. "What's wrong with our medics?" she just /has/ to ask. She gives Phalanx a rather wry look. "So, where was this warning /before/ I joined the Decepticons, eh?"
-Ghost takes the card with grace, offering Sunspot a wry smile, "Always looking for unattached medical personages.. For some.. friends of mine."
-Sunspot beams as Moonlight takes a card, shoving the last one in Ghost direction as if her whole body is straining in that direction without budging from Phalanx's side. Thrilled when Ghost takes it as well, turning to reply to Moonlight, "Why.. they simply are not as skilled as I. They can get the job done, but I can do a far better one. You won't need to return so quickly after I repair you! Why.. how else do you think Phalanx was always in prime working order? I was the sole medic back then, and I am still all they need now! Anything that needs fixing, I'm your femme! ...For a price."  Sunspot straightens back to normal of course, anything else would look silly.  Sunspot grins at Ghost, "Why, the more complicated the matter, the higher the price but I turn no-one away who can afford me!"
-Phalanx once again replies to a rhetorical question in a serious manner, directing his response to Moonlight, "All decisions are made alone. Your choice ultimately had benefits as well. Security. Access to whatever the Empire has to offer..."
-Solar owes me big for this...or so Moonlight thinks. Just /wait/ till she gets a hold of him again. "Still, alternative opinions would have been nice." She slumps slightly. It's so annoying being hated or disregarded for the wrong reasons. "Fine then. We'll find other ways. If you ever change your mind however...I'm sure you can find one of us. In fact, I'm really hard to miss."
-Ghost tilts her head, "There are always alternatives, Moonlight. It's the making of the choice and being willing to deal with *all* of the implications and changes due to that choice that must be considered."
-Sunspot frowns and turns her attention to Phalanx, "Change your mind for what?"
-Moonlight folds her arms. "I did come here knowing next to nothing about Cybertron," she points out.
-Phalanx nods slowly in response to Ghost's statement. Familiar words. He's said them on more than one occasion. "You'd do well to listen to your commander..." He offers to Moonlight, "I would imagine that she knows this better than most." He then looks aside to Sunspot, shrugging dismissively, "Nothing of any concern." Looking back to Moonlight, he adds, "When you're ignorant of the facts, then it's your responsibility to see that you educate yourself as well."
-Sunspot frown deepens at his responce, unhappy with it but amazingly doesn't say anything else about it, instead turning to Moonlight. "If your unhappy, you could always leave.. couldn't you? Look at Phalanx. It's not that hard. You must want to stay." Rather naive comment, showing just how little Sunspot 'got out' when it came to factions.
-Ghost eeehhhs softly as Sunspot makes what to her must be a brillaint statement. She decides that to comment or it would lend fuel to rumors. "Information.. when one has no basis of comparison, can seem all but meaninless, Phalanx. I wouldnt say not knowing is ignorant.. considering to whom we speak of. Not.. everyone has had the access to knowledge that others have had in the past."
-Moonlight is getting grumpier and grumpier. "Well, that's all very well to say if you have someone benevolent type person nudging you along your life. I didn't really have that you know, and I'm damned impressed with myself for still being alive. So there." Okay, that was /not/ one of Moonlight's mature moments. Rarely does she ever indulge in a 'poor me' moment, but she's really coming close. Especially around people who expect her to be omniscient, which she most definately is not. She laughs, but it's much harsher than her usual laugh. "Besides, I'm not known for my ability to listen...never had to do it much in my old life."
-Phalanx looks to Ghost, addressing her points first, "I did not use ignorant in the negative sense, but in the literal sense... To lack knowledge. It's a rare opportunity to gather all of the facts before making a decision, but the attempt should be made to gather as much information as possible in the time given. Either way, we're responsible for the decisions we make, and have no one to blame but ourselves when the outcome is disappointing." Turning to Moonlight now, he bows his head slightly, replying evenly, "And that's an admirable accomplishment. It was not my intention to take away from it, only to point out what I've already stated... Only by accepting this responsibility can we endeavour to improve ourselves and our ability to make and deal with decisions."
-Sunspot blinks and stares at Moonlight as if she grew another head. "..Your complaining that you did not have someone leading your life which caused you to make a bad choice and join the Decepticons without knowing the whole deal?" There's no humor to Sunspot's tone. "Perhaps you should keep silent and instead count yourself lucky you did not live a hard life."
-Moonlight stamps a foot at Sunspot. "My life was hardly easy." She shakes her head. What is /with/ these people! Calm Moonlight, calm. Remember, you have charisma. Forcing herself to smile lightly, she turns back to Phalanx. "Well, I'm sorry you don't like the idea. When we succeed you'll be more than welcome back in the city I'm guessing. After all, it should be free to everyone then...or maybe no one at all." Shrugging she starts to head off.
-Sunspot blinks as she watches Moonlight's display, far from convinced. Shaking her head as Moonlight leaves, turning to glance up at Phalanx. "Bolts.. she's immature. You don't see me whinning about my history." Grabbing his hand and tugging, "Come on, I want to show you my work. You've never seen my new office at the Hospice."
-Phalanx pulls away and scowls at her, then continues on his way home. Nyah.
-Sunspot blinks and runs after him, grabbing on again . "Your office then."