June 30th, 2003
~Dirge(D), Skydagger(D),

Darkmount - Repair Bay

     Much like the adjacent research lab, the equipment here is showing signs of age, but is kept in a serviceable condition. Two automated repair drones lie against the far wall, though each is obviously missing a few parts...apparently they've been salvaged for someone else's benefit. The once well-stocked parts closets now contain mostly empty shelves and bins. Several dozen repair tables of various sizes are arranged in rows in the middle of the room.


Skydagger [Robot] [D] 
Dirge [Robot] [D] 
Drone Medic 
Redline's Side Office 
AutoMedic 
Dartboard 
Serdidymus 
Medical Terminal

Obvious Exits:
 -S- South leads to Darkmount - Regeneration Spa
 -E- East leads to Darkmount - Medical and Science Level
 -W- West leads to Darkmount - Cryochamber

-The door to the repair bay opens and Dirge furtively creeps in.
-Skydagger is sitting at a computer terminal, reading a pulp fiction story.
-Moonlight pops her head into the repair bay a few minutes later. She's just doing her rounds of annoyance right now. Well, she might not call it that, but other people might think of her nosy habits as that.
-Dirge casts a sideways glance at Skydagger, hoping the medic had not spotted his absence. He covers his mouth as he burps out a small cloud of catalyzed energon, then carefully hops onto the nearest repair bed.
-Skydagger always knows everything that happens in her repair bay, but makes no acknowledgement of Dirge's absence and subsequent return.
-Moonlight peers about the room. It proves not to be empty, so she sticks more than her head in, walking fully into the room. "Evening all," she says cheerfully.
-Dirge's leg is still stiff from an injury, and instead of silently and gracefully hopping onto the bed as he had intended, Dirge trips and almost falls over. So much for being furtive. Dirge jumps as he hears Moonlight's voice, then frowns at her as he attempts to hop into the repair bed again - this time with more care.
-Skydagger looks up from the computer. Nodding, she asks, "Can I help you with something?" She glances at the bumbling Dirge but says nothing.
-Moonlight shakes her head at Dirge. She hasn't even /done/ anything yet and already he's scowling. Then again, it /is/ Dirge. Maybe he just can't help it. She looks over to Skydagger. "No, I don't need anything in particular. And I'm much happier that way," she says with a grin.
-Skydagger looks somewhat curiously at Moonlight. "Then...why come here?"
-Dirge finally clambers into the bed, and leans against the headrest. He watches the two silently, then abruptly says to Moonlight, "Don't you have anything better to do?"
-Moonlight shrugs. "I just like to check up on people. Sometimes those stuck in medbay like me to get things for them. Makes them complain less and it's just easier on everyone." She gives Dirge an extra-specially wide grin. "Of course not. You must be mistaking me for someone useful."
-Skydagger shrugs. "Okay. Well, for what it's worth, I'm functioning within specified parameters." She turns back to the computer display and goes back to reading.
-Dirge scoffs derisively at Moonlight, then burps another purple cloud. Looking very surprised, he quickly covers his mouth, then loudly clears his vocalizers as his face falls back into its usual sombre planes. Dirge sarcastically replies to Moonlight, "Forgive me. I thought every Decepticon served a purpose here." He tilts a head at Moonlight. "Are you here to annoy?"
-Functioning within what? Not much for formal speaking, Moonlight is temporarily floored. But Moonlight usually doesn't stay that way for long, unless a stun-gun is involved. "So, have many patients lately?" she asks conversationally. At Dirge's comment she pulls herself up to her full twenty-one foot height, which is less than impressive, "Actually, I /do/ have a use. But smuggling isn't something that is always in demand like warriors. It's a bit more...specialized." Then she arches an optic ridge. "Have you been drinking something funny?"
-Skydagger glances in Dirge's direction. "You'd know that from experience, would'nt you?" To Moonlight, she gestures at Dirge and says, "That one, but he can wait. There was the field commander, and Whiplash..."
-Dirge awkwardly clears his vocalizers again. "No!" He has a sheepish look on his face as he casts another sideways glance at Skydagger, then back at Moonlight. "Of...course not." Dirge shifts uncomfortably on the bed, then at Skydagger's comment says, "Er...yes. Nothing life-threatening."
-Moonlight groans. "Whiplash eh? Did you manage to fix her, or did she run out of here like there was no tomorow?" She shakes her head. "I don't know how well you've known her, but you must have noticed her habit of not cooperating with medics by now." With a sigh she turns back to Dirge. "You really should stop being so touchy you know."
-Skydagger shrugs. "She said she didn't need repairs. I told her to leave then. She got up to leave, but then decided to let me fix her." No problems Dag can't deal with.
-Dirge notes with a smirk, "Besides,Whiplash was half-opened, so she couldn't run off." He then shrugs at Moonlight. "Touchy?" Dirge echoes, with a raised optic. "Whatever. I'm quite relaxed today." With that, he stretches his arms over his head, then burps again. Dirge looks quite embarrassed as he covers his mouth once more.
-Both of Moonlight's optic ridge's shoot ceiling-wards. "She..let you...fix her? What did you /do/ to her?" For the moment she's forgotten about Dirge.
-Skydagger raises a ridge. "Whiplash was not opened up when I told her she could leave." Turning to Moonlight, she says, "Nothing. I told her if she doesn't want repairs, she can leave. She decided instead to let me repair her."
-Dirge is half-listening to the conversation. He is more intent on stopping his burping. Dirge curses to himself - he shouldn't have drank so many Omegaritas.
-Moonlight hmmmmms. Last time she checked Whiplash wouldn't let a medic touch her with a ten-foot pole. "Well, I'm glad she isn't making trouble for you. In fact, most people are rather troublesome to medics around here. Not really sure why. Never could figure out why everyone seems to think it's so great to walk around looking like they'd been put through a metal shredder."
-Skydagger shrugs. "It's up to them, I'm not their mother. If they want repairs, they'll let me repair them. Otherwise I won't chase after them."
-Dirge hears the latter part of Moonlight's comments and glares at the femme. "What are you trying to say?" he snaps, quite conscious of the numerous gouges in his armour. Especially the huge tear across his chest.
-Moonlight grins at the mental image of Skydagger chasing down all the naughty mechs and femmes who don't want repairs. "Well, that's nice of you...I guess. But I suppose you've got enough on your hands with the people who want to be fixed up without chasing down the others. I mean, Darkmount isn't exactly crawling with medics." She glances over at Dirge. "Don't worry, dear, it's not just you. Most people I talk to won't see a medic unless they think they're on their death bed," she says flippantly.
-Dirge continues to glare at Moonlight, while replying, "I wouldn't mind medics half as much if they weren't on a Primus complex." He gives Skydagger a knowing glance, then carefully stretches his injured leg. "If the medics were decent, then I wouldn't mind coming in here for repairs."
-Skydagger snorts, looking pointedly at Dirge. "Medics are as close to Primus as anything gets, my dear Dirge." She turns back to Moonlight. "Yes, I noticed that. I'm not sure I'm looking forward to dealing with the aftermath of a large battle on my own."
-Moonlight looks rather amusedly between Skydagger and Dirge. "Hey, medics have the power. You've just got to face that Dirge. A warrior doesn't get very far without a good medic to back him up," she says with a chuckle. "And don't glare at me Dirge; I'm right. Besides, it's unbecoming." She 'rewards' him with a bit of a wink then turns to Skydagger. "A while back someone offered to teach me medicky stuff. I should have taken him up on his offer. I could have helped you then. Of course, at the time, there wasn't a deficit in medics."
-Skydagger inclines her head at Moonlight's comment. "Oh? Why did you decline?"
-Dirge frowns at the pair and replies, "Medics aren't Primus. Without warriors, you'll be dead if someone attacked the base. Face that." He folds his arms across his chest and raises a questioning optic ridge at Moonlight. "You? A medic?" Dirge found the mental image somewhat amusing and a small smile crosses his face.
-Moonlight shrugs. "I'm not really sure to be honest. I guess I didn't know if it was my thing. I mean, I wasn't really /needed/ to be a medic." Then she grins. "Maybe I thought it would be dull, but after I've seen a few things, I think I've revised my opinion." "Sure, why not Dirge? Less likely things have happened you know."
-Skydagger nods at Dirge. "Very well, I'll make a note in the computers that you are not under any circumstance to be repaired, ever." With that she starts towards the computer slowly.
-Dirge replies to Moonlight, still with the smile on his face, "A smuggler turned medic. How interesting. I don't know how possible that would be." The smile leaves Dirge's face as he hears Skydagger's comment, replaced by a look of alarm. "I never said medics are useless," he says to Skydagger. Backtracking, Dirge says, "They...are integral to the Empire..." He voice trails off as he apprehensively glances at Skydagger.
-Skydagger's face assumes a smug look of satisfaction as she sits down at the computer, turning for a moment to wink at Dirge, then she begins typing.
-Moonlight arches an optic ridge. "Now that's power," she says with mock reverence. It's clear she's making fun of Dirge and not Skydagger, though she might be poking fun of the idea in general as well. She waggles a finger at Dirge. "Be careful. The more you scoff at the idea, the more appealing it becomes."
-Dirge frowns at Skydagger and is about to shoot an insult at Skydagger, but swallows it down just in time. He decides to focus his attention to Moonlight for now, and scoffs again at the femme. "What makes you think you can become a medic?" Dirge wags his own finger at Moonlight. "You should know what happens to incompetent medics." He glances at Skydagger again. "What exactly are you doing?"
-Skydagger looks up to ascertain whether Dirge was addressing her. "I'm doing exactly what I said I would do. Making a note that you are not to be repaired without my explicit prior approval." In reality she's just typing random words, but since the monitor is facing away from Dirge, he can't know this.
-Moonlight grins. "I think I'm smart enough to become a medic. It's a skill, like any other skill. I'd just have to learn." She turns to Skydagger, "Right?"
-Skydagger nods at Moonlight. "It also takes a great deal of dedication. And you can't be squeamish about poking about inside people."
-Dirge watches as Skydagger continues to type with another look of alarm on his face which slowly becomes anger. "You are mad," he hisses malevolently, optics narrowing and darkening into a furious, indignant red. "I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up like Redline." Dirge makes a slicing motion with one hand. "Dead."
-Skydagger nods. "I shall add that to the note." She types and speaks slowly as if she were saying the words as she types: "Dirge...threatens...to...kill...me...quote," she says, voice fading off as she continues to type.
-Moonlight makes a face. "That's not something I'd be squeamish about. Besides, it's better to fix people than it is to break them." She gives Dirge an odd look. "What ever /did/ happen to that guy anyhow? I mean, I know he was killed, but did they ever figure out why or by whom?"
-Dirge glares at Skydagger. "I didn't threaten you," he snaps. He lowers his head while keeping his optics on Skydagger, giving the impression that he was about to charge into Skydagger's back. "What kind of medic are you, not fulfilling your duties?" Dirge then raises his head and glances at Moonlight. "It's still inconclusive," he curtly replies. "They're still looking for Sylver, last I heard."
-Skydagger chuckles darkly. "I am a medic who only repairs those who wish to be repaired."
-Moonlight nods her head at Dirge. "So, if you weren't threatening her, why would you say she'll end up like Redline anyhow? He seemed a bit stuffy but I didn't see that he did anything out of the ordinary." To Skydagger, "So, apart from training, dedication, and lack of squeamishness, what else would I need?"
-Skydagger finishes, or better said stops typing. Reclining in her chair she puts her hands behind her head and looks over at Moonlight. (She looks at the moment like Chow Yun Fat in that scene in Hard Boiled). She makes a long pause, sizing Moonlight up with her optics. Finally, she says, "A teacher."
-Dirge glances at both femmes. "It was a warning," he replies to Moonlight. "Redline was arrogant. Most didn't like him. Do you think most cared about his fate? No." Dirge then shifts his attention to Skydagger. "You can't pick and choose your patients."
-Moonlight grins. "Yes, but it's better to know these things ahead of time before I pester some poor medic to teach me." Flicking a glance at Dirge she nods once. "I don't think you're completely wrong...but your attitude doesn't really want to make people listen to you."
-Skydagger glances over at Dirge. "Oh no? Well, I've never heard that rule before. Mind you, I've seldom had patients who ask me to fix them and insult me in the same sentence."
-Dirge arches an optic ridge at Skydagger, then swings his legs over the bed so he could directly face the medic. "I've never heard of medics who insult their patients." He folds his arms across his chest and scowls at Moonlight. "What are you today, my teacher?"
-Moonlight fits her fingertips together reflectively. "Well, they say there's something to learn from everyone," she says solemnly. Then she grins. "Oh /lighten/ up Dirge. If you were a wee bit nicer to Skydagger you wouldn't be in this mess. You'd be all fixed up and shiney like new and off tying Autobots to rocks or something." She sounds a little impatient.
-Skydagger raises a ridge at Dirge somewhat insolently and says, "What you borrow, you get back." Turning her attention back to Moonlight, she narrows her optics, and finally asks, "Indeed." A longish pause, then: "I take it you want to learn?"
-Moonlight gives a sound of affirmation to Skydagger. "It would seem like the best course right now. I figure it might make a little more work for you in the beginning, but might save you time in the long run. Besides, everyone knows I'm no good at fighting, maybe I'll be better at putting people back together."
-Dirge is quite unimpressed by both femmes, then says to Skydagger, "You can't take what you give. I wouldn't care about you if you weren't the only active medic around." He appraises Moonlight with critical optics and steeples his fingers. "Interesting. More useful than smuggling."
-Skydagger nods. "Alright. I'll discuss it with Commander Enfilade, but I don't think it should be a problem to have you become an intern." She pauses, then says, "A few ground rules I will set now, however, and they will be adhered to strictly. First: in the medbay, you do what I say, when I say it - there's a reason I'm saying it. Secondly, if ever once you are late for your scheduled shift, your internship ends. Is this clear?"
-Moonlight puts her hands on her hips. "Would it really kill you to be more cheerful now and then Dirge?" She nods to Skydagger, her expression serious for the moment. "I understand. Though you might want to make that clear to Solar as well. I don't want to be caught between two bosses. Things could get ugly that way."
-Skydagger nods at Moonlight. "I will discuss it with him as well."
-Dirge smirks at Moonlight. "There's nothing to be cheerful about," he replies. Adding to Skydagger's ground rules, Dirge notes, "Thirdly - don't experiment on me." He narrows his optics at both femmes, and especially at Moonlight. "I'm not your experimental patient."
-Skydagger nods at Dirge. "You are correct, Dirge. You are not my patient." She looks at Moonlight with a wink, then starts laughing.
-Moonlight smiles. "Despite popular belief, I don't want to cause trouble. If Solar knows what's happening, there shouldn't be a problem at all. He's the one I normally answer to. But I'm not doing much for him right now anyhow, so things should come along nicely. Just let me know when you've heard back from the higher-ups." She shakes her head at Dirge. "Well, you should /find/ something to be cheerful about then."
-Dirge does not share in Skydagger's humour. "Don't you dare," he snaps. He glances at Moonlight, then back at Skydagger. Emphatically he states,"I am NOT an experimental subject." Dirge then morosely addresses Moonlight. "What did you say about 'finding something to be cheerful about', Mer Optimist?"
-Moonlight stretches. "Well, I have some things to finish off before I start this new project. It will probably go smoother if I'm not worrying about multiple things at once." She chuckles softly, rather pleased at the prospect of learning a new craft. But Dirge's last comment makes her pause for a moment. "It can't be /that/ bad. I'll be careful...really I will." Then she resumes chuckling.
-Skydagger stops laughing and turns to Dirge. "As I just finished saying, you are not my patient. If you were, I'd check your hearing." She looks at Moonlight again with a chuckle. "Once Solar and Enfilade give me the green light, I will inform you as to your schedule." She then reclines further into her seat and brings the pulp fiction story up again on the computer.
-Dirge gives Moonlight a baleful look. "You are not touching my chassis." He glares at Skydagger again, then swings his legs around and turns his back on both.
-"We will wait and see then Skydagger," says Moonlight as she heads towards the door. She has one final thing to say to Dirge, however. "If you want to be battle ready then one of us will have to. You're just going to have to pick the lesser of two evils." Then she winks and is out the door.