July 18th, 2003 ~Splitshift(U), Gates of Crystal City As you move off the main thoroughfare towards the Crystal City, you behold the massive chrome arches that form the singularly impressive gates to the city. The elaborately ornate spires that top the arches reach high into the sky as if to proclaim their immortality to the universe. The highly polished metal structure twinkles what light there is back at you, as if focusing a spotlight on all who enter the great city. The Guardian robot sized gates show few signs of any damage from the current conflict--a testimony to the dedication and vigilance of Omega Supreme. The gates stand open, but are well guarded by members of the Crystal City Militia. Beyond the troops, the bustling and lively main street beckons you inside... Splitshift [Antigrav Racer] [U] Crystal City City Map Harmless Hermit Obvious Exits: -U- Up leads to Sky Above Crystal City -NE- Northeast leads to Old Cybertronia -E- East leads to Old Cybertronia -W- West leads to Guardian Pass -Splitshift cruises towards Crystal City, for once not travelling at suicidal velocitis - possibly because of the increased traffic in the area, but more likely due to being low on fuel. The racer agilely weaves in and out of the flow of mechs and femmes making their way in and out of the city, and glides towards the gates. -Shimmer stands outside Crystal city, looking up at its spires. Her hands are clasped behind her back. Her expression, for anyone in a position to look at it, is rather wistful, though there's a bit of determination behind it. -"Out of the way you bums" Splitshift emits in a half exasperated tone, weaving his way up to the gates and transforming. Raising one hand to greet one of the militia members he knows, Splitshift notices the femme standing there, staring at the City like it was a gold medal and she just came second. Grinning to himself, the racer sidles up behind Shimmer. "You know, you don't have to watch it" he remarks. "It's not going anywhere. Probably." -Shimmer seems startled as she turns around to face the owner of the voice. Her face colors slightly, "Um, I know that. Well, I don't actually /know/ that, I just assume. I mean, there /is/ a war going on and things have a habit of...not being there after a while," she says. -Splitshift hehs. "Alright, you got me there. But standing there staring at it isn't going to help. Besides, that's what our.. Noble Autobot Allies", he sneers, "are for. Or at least that's why they're strutting around like they own the place." -Shimmer blinks. "I think they sort of do now, don't they?" She shrugs a little. "I know that standing there isn't going to help the world, but looking at the city helps me think. It looks so serene from the outside. I like to come here, but not get caught up with the comings and goings inside." That and if anyone ever caught her inside and found out her identity, she'd be in big trouble. -"What, are you crazy?" Splitshift replies increduously. "What's the point of standing around outside, when inside there's noise and excitement and crime and music and.. everything." -Shimmer frowns slightly at the insult. "Since when was crime a good thing?" she asks meekly. And this is coming from a smuggler. Oh well. "Besides, I'm too easily distracted inside the city." -Splitshift shrugs, a half smile playing around his mouth. "Hey, got to have a little danger. Otherwise it's just not worth it." -Shimmer considers this for a moment. "That might be true, but if I want to get into danger, it has to be for something I belive in, not just for fun." Which is mostly true, despite her guise. "Doing it just because I can might get me killed for no good reason." -"So you prefer to stand here looking at the city, because it's too interesting and maybe dangerous inside?" Splitshift shakes his head. "Then what's the point of living at all?" -Shimmer sighs. "To get enough information to actually do something about the things that bother me. Rushing in blindly is no good, no good at all." She shakes her head. "I'm just a waitress at the Wild Surge, I can barely use a gun. What else am I supposed to do besides wait and learn?" -Splitshift just doesn't seem to understand either sentiment. "How about learning by doing? You don't win by standing on the sidelines." -Shimmer folds her arms. "Win? I don't even have a side. But I don't think I want one. The factionals scare me more often than not." -Splitshift throws up his hands. "Gah! No, that's not what I meant. Gee, you're not the happiest of femmes, are you? I mean, there's no point standing around not doing things because they scare you. Life is scary and fast and dangerous and wonderful, and worth living." -Shimmer stamps a foot. "I /am/ doing something. I'm just taking my time with it. And unless I do something stupid and get killed, I'll have pleanty of time to do it in." -Splitshift gives her an odd, amused look. "You're a waitress in the 'Surge, and yet you seem scared to go into Crystal City." -Shimmer just shakes her head. "I'm not scared to go into the City. I just find it distracting. I'm used to Dead End, so it's not as distracting. Does that make any sense to you?" -"Not at all" Splitshift remarks, with the same half smile. -Shimmer takes a step back. "You're a rather smug and self-possed mech, aren't you?" -Splitshift looks offended, but not /that/ offended. "Hey, it comes with the territory. No place for humility in the winner's circle." -Shimmer blinks. "What did you win?" Okay, she knows the answer to this one, but /he/ doesn't know that she does, and he might get suspicious if she didn't ask. -Splitshift will never get tired of people asking that question. Producing a small data projector from subspace and pressing a button on its side, he produces a grainy, distorted hologram of himself being handed a strange looking trophy of some kind, surrounded by the cheering crowds of an arena. Over the hologram flashes a list of lap times. -Shimmer raises both optic ridges. "You're a racer?" she asks with the proper 'breathless' admiration that one would expect from a simple waitress meeting a racing 'legend'. -Splitshift preens. "Guess you could say that" he says with admirable understatement. "Won the Micron and Powerlinx cups back-to-back." -Shimmer's optics glitter. "Wow." She frowns slightly. "But I didn't think they held races here anymore. Most people are too busy fighting and hiding." -Splitshift's self satisfied smile fades. "Yeah, there are no races any more." He inspects the back of one hand. "Maybe one day." -Shimmer nods once. "I suppose that racing could be considered a sort of art form, couldn't it?" she asks. -Splitshift looks back up at Shimmer, his optics suddenly alight. "Oh, it's an art alright. The turns, the jumps.. striving to be the first to cross that yellow line while knowing that the 12 mechs around you will do anthing to stop you reaching that goal, and fighting.. not against them, but your own limitations, pushing through that barrier of pain.." It's like Splitshift is suddenly fully animated as he talks about the sport, his optics are brighter, mouth more ready to smile. -Shimmer claps her hands once, now looking rather excited. "Excellent. And I'm sure that you'd be really happy to have races again, big, formal races that everyone on Cybertron would be clamouring to see, right?" -"That's a safe bet" he remarks dryly, reigning in his excitement with an obvious effort. "Prize money would be good as well." And a trophy, the fame, the femmes... -Shimmer rubs her hands together, looking greatly pleased. "Good, good," she says, nodding, as though making a mental note. "Things are coming along nicely," she comments, mostly to herself. -Splitshift raises an optic ridge. "Things?" he says, suddenly suspicious. "What things?" -Shimmer pats the shiney new emblem on her chest. "Just something I'm trying to accomplish. I know I'm not very good at fighting, and I don't think I'd want to fight, so I'm trying to make things better for people in my own way." She sighs, suddenly looking rather glum. "But I'm not very forward and I'm not really sure how to get where I'm going either." -Splitshift peers at the symbol. "AP?" -Shimmer nods her head. "Aesthetic Protectors. Just sort of a name I thought up one cycle." -Splitshift ahhhs. "I heard somthing about that." He looks disapointed and somewhat regretful. "Good luck, but I think it's a lost cause." -Shimmer smiles sadly. "That's what most people tell me. But if I get a few people that believe in me, I think I can convince more people. It's a good goal. Well, I think so," she says, trying to sound a little defiant and missing the mark. -Splitshift shrugs. "Sure, but with the Bots and Cons running around shooting at everything that moves and most things that don't, it's a bit like trying to rivet energon to a wall." -Shimmer shrugs. "Well, giving up is just about as effective without the perk of having a chance to work." -"Touche" Splitshift replies. "Anyway, I should go. Or a very angry and violent mech will come looking for me, asking why I haven't delivered his package." -Shimmer nods. "I see. Well, if ever you see that my plan is coming along and you want to give us a hand, I'd be happy to have you," she says, giving the mech a wave in farewell. -Splitshift hands her a half-mocking salute. "Give me a call" he says, before transforming and gliding off into the city.