September 2nd, 2003 ~Silentlight(A), Cinder(D), Cloak(A), Deadlands The deadlands of Cybertron stretch out 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 imaginable. 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, if one looks for it, but at first glance, there is apparently nothing worth wasting time on here. Cinder [Robot] [D] Silentlight [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 -Silentlight is slowly walking around the Deadlands, scanning various pieces of terrain and taking notes on a small datapad in his hand. -For someone who doesn't like confrontation, Moonlight is coming awfully close to the division between neutral territory and territory belonging to the Autobots. The Deadlands is pretty much the last area of the buffer zones between Bot and Con lands. This is generally where Moonlight runs into trouble, but for some reason she always has to return to push her luck. At the moment she is strolling casually through the area, trying not to disturb too much of the dead bits lying about. -Cinder is sitting, by fates' chance, right exactly where both would meet if they continued on their course. Althogh, he was extremely still, wings cupped around him as he perched on a low rock, his own coloration blending in superbly with his sitting spot as he stares at his hand thoguhtfully, black eyes emitting no betraying glow. -Silentlight continues on his course, completely absorbed in his work, which has gotten him into trouble sometimes in the past. Fortunately, this time he is restricting his area of wandering to the Deadlands. He continues his surveying of the land as he approaches Cinder. -Moonlight continues on her way as well, towards the same point. Not being /quite/ as absorbed as Silentlight, she probably notices him before he notices her. But, she fails to notice Cinder at this point. Smiling slightly to herself, she slows her pace only slightly as she moves onwards. -Cinder tenses, hearing footsteps approach from both directions. He freezes, optics panning slowly as best he can from where he sat. his wings shift position ever so slightly, and he scans, both worried and releived at the signatures he gets back. Finally, he does move, without any warning he leaps down off the rock into the clearing. -Silentlight detects some motion ahead of him but decides to ignore it becuase there have been reports of transorgs running around here lately. If there is one thing he does not want now, it is a distraction. -Only slightly startled as Cinder suddenly 'appears', Moonlight's smile broadens. Since Cinder's out in the open, there's no real need to stay hush-hush, is there. "Hello Cinder. Whatcha doing all the way out here?" Once the question is asked, she flicks her optics towards the Autobot that is a little ways off from her and Cinder still. -Cinder whirls at the voice, wings rising around his shoulders as though bracing... then he stops, eyeing Moonlight suspiciously 'Is really Moonlight?" he finally rasps, optics following slightly in Silents' direction, and they narrow further. -Silentlight gives a sigh as he apparently finishes his labors. He puts the datapad into subspace and scans the area for other lifeforms. Upon discovering the Decepticons in the area, he decides to just stand where he is and see if they saw anything. -Moonlight looks herself over in mock confusion. "Who else would I be? Aren't many people on Cybertron with my profile...or my taste in head gear." She chuckles softly. "Now, if I had sounded a bit more formal, I could understand any confussion." -Cinder snaps his wings around him at the two. "Am not sure." he murmers. "Did before. Pretend be Fil... make fool of Cinder." he growls, and glances to Silentlight again "Who that?" -Silentlight quickly ponders his courses of actions giving the question that is placed before him, and he decides that he might as well answer it. Besides, if all goes bad, he can always retreat. He then says clearly, "I am Silentlight, Autobot Search and Rescue Medic" He decides that it is best to leave out the MedTech CO part of his title in this situation, though it might come out with some prompting... or not. -Moonlight blinks, never having heard /this/ story before. "When did this happen and who was pretending to be Enfilade?" There's nothing in her tone or expression to indicate she thinks any less of Cinder for being taken in by a deception, she merely wants information. She turns slightly to regard the Autobot, and is about to admit she doesn't know exactly /who/ he is, when the Bot himself saves her the trouble. "I guess that answers that question," she says, putting her hands on her hips and leaning slightly to the left. -Cinder shrugs "Surge. Other day. not sure.." he looks over to Silentlight and nods "Hi." is all the mech rasps quietly, wings tight around him. He looks back at Moonlight "Skydagger there. She laugh too." Cinder says, "Also kick Cinder when Cinder down." -Silentlight chuckles softly at the quaint politeness of Cinder and decides to listen a little at this little drama that seems to be unfolding. -Moonlight blinks slightly at Cinder. "Laughed at you, or laughed at the imposter? And I /didn't/ laugh at either. And do you mean she literally kicked you, or was that a metaphor?" She then turns back to Silentlight, who doesn't seem to be giving any more information. "So, Cinder, what do you think we should do with this one?" she asks, her optics glowing slightly. She has no intention of doing /anything/ but she just had to pretend... -Cinder stops as the autobot chuckles, and he turns, optics actually glittering red at the edges. "Laugh AT me. Like am joke." he rasps, an unmoving statue facing silentlight. "And yes, Kick, in stomach. Gave drink Cinder not want, Cinder pass offline." -Silentlight frowns as he realizes the mental state of Cinder. It is true that Cinder was under core detention for some time, but there should not have been any deterioration that would cause this pysche. Then again Silentlight did not know Cinder before he was placed in core detention. He then shakes his head slowly, feeling that that is probably the safest think to say or do. -Moonlight shakes her head slightly. "And this was the Fake-Fil, or Skydagger doing these things?" She's ever so patient with Cinder's...problem. For the moment she isn't paying much attention to Silentlight, though she does keep an optic on him. She's much more concerned with helping a fellow Con than making trouble for an 'enemy'. -Cinder hasn't taken his optics off Silentlight... though he doesnt' seem to be hostile towards him... he's just staring now "Both... F... Fffake fill... order me... Dagger... kick. Both laugh." he states softly, then shakes his head "It matter not. Am careful now. Autobot? I don't care." he shrugs. "Unless he attack, I not." -Silentlight nods slowly, that is always good. He seems to be able to get most Decepticons in a mood where they do not attack him, which is why he has lasted this long. He then says softly, "I never meant to act like you were a joke." -Moonlight frowns. "That doesn't seem right. Though Skydagger does get amused at the strangest things." Her forehead crinkles with the preplexing news. "But after that I guess it makes sense to be suspicious. I know Fil; she isn't like that at all. And Skydagger was most likely either drunk or a fake as well." She finally turns back to Silentlight. "I don't suppose /you/ would know anything about this, would you Mr. Bot?" -Cinder nods at Moonlight, distracted by her "Aye. Also, Fil would know not touch Cinder. " he looks back at Silent, staring solumnly a moment, then sighs "Its ok. Am used to chuckles when speaking." -Silentlight turns his attention to Moonlight, "Actually, I am as completely in the dark as you are in this situation. I had nothing to do with and know nothing about whatever you are discussing." He then folds his arms and resigns himself to that. -Moonlight puts her hands behind her back and gives Cinder an innocent look. "I guess she's a quicker learner than I am. But that's not the point. Did you tell the higher-ups back at base that someone is walking around pretending to be Enfilade?" She shrugs slightly at Silentlight. "I'll take your word for it. I'm not into interrogations, so I'll just assume you're telling the truth...for now. Of course, I'll be rather irritable later if I find you're lying, but I won't be surprised. Nothing personal of course." -Cinder shakes his head at Moonlight "n... no." he states uncertainly. He glances to Silentlight, then back to Moonlight "Saw person after trick. Was not Silent... sil... him."he finally gives up. -Silentlight nods as he listens to what Moonlight and then Cinder, "I do not make it a habit to frequent such locations." He then pauses, "However I must agree with Moonlight, your commanding officers probably should hear of this incident." -Cinder shakes his head "No. Is not important. She know I not like, she is not Decepticon. Wil not do it again." his optics glow red a moment, and he folds his arms. -Moonlight folds her arms and peers at Silentlight. "You guys /really/ should get better intel types. Your people aren't very convincing actors you know." She sighs softly. "It's too bad that you had to learn suspicion like that Cinder." -Cinder scowls "I DO know suspicion." he stalks away from them both, then back, like a caged lion. "Grew up with, trained with. Always laughing, making fun of. Does happen again not mean cannot!" he stops and facepalms with a CLANG -Silentlight represses a chuckle at what Moonlight says about the Autobot Intel division. It is a good thing that Silhouette is not here, because she would have some choice words right about now. Ultimately, Silentlight just nods, smiles and says, "It is not my department, but I will relay the message if you wish." -Moonlight hmphs. "Well, then it's too bad that someone had to reconfirm the nasty lessons you started with!" she almost snapps. But if Cinder picks up on it, Moonlight isn't snapping /at/ him, but at the circumstances he's been through. She calms herself quickly and turns to Silentlight. "Yeah, you do that." -Cinder looks from one to the other nervously and folds his arms again, wings pulled back and relxing a little. "Well, did not expect someone pretend be important decepticon. normally ends in death." -Moonlight nods. "I see what you mean," or so she hopes, "but whoever did that should be shot....many times. And I generally don't like guns." Of course, Moonlight knows /all/ about being mistreated by an imposter Con. -Silentlight nods slowly as he slowly steps back from the group. -Cinder nods at Moonlight at that, wings flipping. Then he glances to Silentlight and shakes his head. "Stop it. Am only violent when need be." he grumbles. Cinder says, "Have not been in battle yet, and you tell Magnus I still no blood on hands!" THAT was said with a measure of bitterness and hatred. -Silentlight nods and bows, "I will certainly do relay the message, and my slight retreat was not out of fear of violence. If you wish for me to stay I certainly will." -Moonlight looks slightly surprised and impressed at Silentlight's calm answer. "Hey, if more Bots were like you, things would go much smoother." She turns back to Cinder, concern in her optics. "I know it's been tough, but you really should calm down Cinder...if you're so worked up, you'll be jumping at shadows next. I don't want to see you get into trouble, okay?" -Cinder frowns, and shakes his head "If jump, is because of reason." he folds his wings. "Don't want to relax... is near enemy territory, yes? " he glances to Silentlight, frowning uncertainly, then back "Better safe than sorry... others. " -Silentlight replies with a grin, "Thank you Moonlight, I will accept that as a compliment." He then directs his attention to Cinder and tries to interpret his actions and mannerisms but only is semisuccessful in his attempts. -Moonlight sighs, wanting to give Cinder a friendly pat, reaching out to do so, and stopping herself, dropping her hand lamely to her side. "I meant in general Cinder. Besides, I'm just as close to enemy territory as you are, and you don't see me getting uptight about it. Life is what you make it really, and being tense all the time isn't much of a life." -Cinder looks away from Silentlight, reluctant to meet his optics, instead he looks at Moonlight's shoulder "I make life what I like. I like be alone, doing duty, not having to have... drinks." he grimaces -Silentlight listens intently to the advice that Moonlight gives Cinder and the comments the Cinder is saying. All in all, this is quite a nice look into the psyches of a coupld of Decepticons. -Too bad these aren't typical Decepticons. If they were, Silentlight might be on to something by now. Moonlight seems saddened. "Cinder, if you had had a fair start like most everyone else, you wouldn't love to be alone so much. You'd probably be happier. You might say you prefer to be alone and doing your duty, but duty can't be your whole life you know. People crack if they don't have a few things they like in their leisure. You don't have to drink, and I can't believe I'm saying that, but you must do /something/ for fun. You're not that old, but if you continue on this way, you /are/ going to break. Trust me." -Cinder frowns, optics flashing again "I DO have fun. I do etching." he explains "And I AM happy... when alone." he states this with finality. -Silentlight nods and smiles, "Though typically I would agree with Moonlight, I feel that Cinder is correct in this instance. It is quite possible that some Transformers are truly happy only when they are performing the function that they were made to do." -Moonlight blinks at the finallity of Cinder's statement. She arches an optic ridge. "So, if you don't really like any of us, why bother fighting for the Empire? I mean, an Empire is just a bunch of people who theoretically believe in the same thing, or live in the same place? We /are/ social creatures after all. Or that's what I've learned from observation." She pauses. "And I didn't know you did etchings..." she says, somewhat meeker. She turns to Silentlight. "I think that's ridiculous. We work to better our lives...we don't better our lives to work." -Cinder looks down to the etchings all over his body, then up at Moonlight uncertainly, waving a hand in front of her optics. "Because I beleive too." he states simply. "I chose be alone, am happy alone, will be... alone." he states again. -Silentlight chuckles at Moonlight's statement about work and life. "That would depend on who you are talking to. There are many old philosophers who believed that we are made to serve a function, and it is only when we find and perform that function that we can be truly happy. Your function is different from Cinder's which is different from mine." -Moonlight falls silent. She generally doesn't try to push her beliefs on others, but she really can't grasp the idea of someone wanting to be alone. Not having another response to Cinder, she concentrates on Silentlight. "/I/ made my own function," she said, tapping her chest. "I might not make all the best choices, but I did choose to be a smuggler, I did choose to be a Decepticon, and I did choose to learn the trade of a medic. No one created me to do those things or forced me." -Silentlight smiles and shakes his head, "If you insist, however one must ask why did you make those decisions, and what shaped you into the femme that made you make those decisions." -Cinder walks over and takes a seat on the rock again, brooding as he listens to the others speak. -Moonlight motions widely with with her hands. "All sorts of things. But to be honest, I don't know who my creators were, or why they made me. I just know that I'm here now, and I'm alive, intend to stay that way, and enjoy doing it." She shrugs. "If everyone was just happy doing their duty, then there wouldn't be this stupid war. We'd all be much happier if things were so simple. But they aren't, so I guess we're just stuck being individuals with free will...or the closest thing to it at any rate." -Silentlight gives a grin that is actually borderline on sinister in appearance. "But what if some Transformers' purposes were to make war?" -Cloak begins to lower his alititude from above having ben her all the time, relax, it is not the decepticons e is interested in. -Cinder is sitting on a rock near the others, brooding -Moonlight arches an optic ridge. "It all goes back to roots. Someone had to have the unique idea of war in the first place to make someone else whose purpose was war. Up until that point, if everyone was happy with their tasks, why would they feel the need to take over anyone else's life?" She stamps a foot with impatience. "I'm no philosopher...I know what I mean, what I feel, but I don't always express it quite right." -Silentlight shrugs as he listens to the questions, "Quite honestly, I am merely playing the Smelter's advocate right now, posing questions that I have no real answers for, and do not necessarily believe." -Cloak floats lower and lower to the ground examining each present. His path takes him more toward Cinder than anyone else. -Cinder jerks off his rock as something flies by his head, and he leaps three feet before whirling, his rifle shifting into appearance as he looks at the newcomer, optics suspicious "CAREFUL!" -Silentlight turns, hearing Cinder's actions. He then detects Cloak and calls out, "Is there something I can help you with?" His question is directed towards Cloak, but he is wise enough not to use Cloak's name. He tends not to like that. -Moonlight ahhhhhhs. "Fair enough then. I do that myself from time to time. Mostly just to be annoying and contrary though." She grins. So what if she isn't a big, scary Decepticon; she never intended to be. Of course, it gets the Bots in trouble almost as much as it gets herself in trouble. -Cloak lands quietly as he always does and responds, "You -will- put your weapon away if you wish to live decepticon," then he turns his back towards Cinder towards Silentlight and says simply, "No." then he stands to watch. -Silentlight sighs and shakes his head at Cloaks unnecessary forward and abrasive nature towards Cinder. He remains focused on Cloak, but he continues his conversation with Moonlight. "Yes, if it were not for such activities, our race would never advance philosophically. -Oh, it's /him/. For once Cinder truly has something to be alarmed by. But although Moonlight knows Cloak is trouble, she's still herself. "What do /you/ want?" she asks Cloak, seemingly ignoring the threat. Her body language shows her to be unconcerned, but she isn't good at disguises for nothing. She continues her conversation with Silentlight, nodding subltly to Cinder to let him know she appreciates the cry of alarm. "Maybe, but I think we've 'advanced' enough for now, don't you think?" -Cinder swallows a little, but lowers the weapon, not shunting it away jsut yet. He looks to Silentlight a moment, then to Moonlight. Right now he'd be grateful his cheekplates don't color in embarassement as he turns and walks back to his rock, gripping his rifle by the barrel to show he wasn't going to use it. -Cloak turns slowly towards Moonlight, "I promised to kill you the next time I saw you. Fortunately for you we are not in the designated area. I advise you to stop talking to me now before I make this a no hat zone as well for you." Cloak glances at Cinder and nods and makes his way back to the shadows opposite Cinder. -Why does everyone always target her hats in their threats and jeers? It's not like /it/ ever hurt anyone. Moonlight turns her shoulders slightly, so as to give the impression that Cloak is no longer part of the conversation. But she doesn't let her guard down in reality, only makes it appear as though she wasn't paying attention. "I really don't think that lives are worth the lack of advancement we've shown. Now maybe if it /got/ us someplace, I could understand." She shrugs, backing towards Cinder a little. He might be a bit...odd...but she knows that if things get ugly, he has her back. "Of course, I don't expect you to agree with me. We /are/ on opposite sides of the fence after all." -Cloak steps out of the shadows and slowly and visibly pulls a sword from his hip. He keeps optic contact with Cinder the whole time. -Cinder doesn't move as Cloak does that, knowing he was well out of reach of the blade. His wings twitch once, then go still, the mech not tearing his own black, inky optics off. He became a statue. -A smile creeps across the face of Silentlight as she goes on about how she does not expect him to think as she does because of their difference in factions. He decides it is best not to comment on it though due to the presence of Cloak. Instead he restricts himself to a sigh and a nod. -Moonlight has decided that Cloak is a party-pooper. Her and Silentlight were having a good conversation, and he had to interrupt it. Then again, Cloak is one of the few Autobots that Moonlight truly has no use for. Most of the others are just...on the wrong side. Or the right side. Moonlight isn't really sure which. But either way, she can see the situation going nowhere fast. "Uh-oh Cinder. He's pointing sharp objects at us. I think he wants us to leave," she points out. No sense in getting into a fight here. She's not really into it, and she's guessing the other 'Light isn't either. But she wants to see how Cinder feels. If he's bitter about not fighting, she would hate to rob him of an opportunity. -Cinder flexes his wings softly "If Moonlight wish leave, then cinder will." he states, indicating he's not going unless Moonlight does. his optics remain on the Autobots, but see Moonlight out of the corner and he murmers softly. Cinder says, "Will not move, unless he does." Lieutenant Moonlight says, "Well, I don't really want to fight to be honest. I'm not good at it. We will try to leave, but if he gets tricky, use any advantage you can." -Cloak keeps his optics on Cinder, "Very well Decepticon." he replies then he says openly, "It is not you I am here to observe anyway." -Silentlight is not startled at all by the implications that Cloak has made. He does not fear Cloak and anything short of a full scale investigation from him would actually probably disappoint Silentlight. He just folds his arms and leans up against a small rock column that is next to him. -Cinder doesn't react to Cloak, optics still on him, and they narrow slightly, then open again and he nods slowly, though to who, it was hard to tell. He doesn't reply, hands still loosely gripping the barrel of his rifle. -Moonlight doesn't like the sound of that one bit, but she also knows that Cloak isn't a Bot she can wheedle information out of. So she leaves it at that. "Well, I'd like to say it was fun, but that would be dishonest Cloak." Note how the statement didn't include Silentlight. "Either way, it's past my bedtime, so I think I'll be toddling along now." That might be pushing it, but Moonlight doesn't really want to sound like she's fleeing in terror. She just hopes that Silentlight isn't in /too/ much trouble. A little will be just enough to justify the interaction to the higher-ups if they get nosy. She starts to back off, trusting Cloak to take a cheap shot if presented with her back. -Cloak keeps his optics on Cinder and shrugs as if he is talking to children. For the first time he looks at Silentlight then Moonlight then says, "Well...carry on. Continue to speak." -Silentlight shrugs and spreads his arms out in mock defeat, "It appears the the discussion is over." He then offers a bow to everybody and begins to head east. -Moonlight has nothing more to say to Cloak. She merely nods to Cinder and starts to depart, keeping her pace slow at first, then gradually making it quicker, though never turning it into a full run; that would look too much like a cowardly act. She knows she's not brave, but that doesn't mean she revels in the fact. -Cinder flips his wings and finally moves. Shifting his grip to the handle, the mech DOES keep his rifle pointed at the ground, notice, and continues watching Cloak as he keeps track of Moonlight, letting her retreat first, before following in the same manner. He glances to Silent again "Remember message! " he rasps finally as he walks alongside Moonlight. -Cloak glances at Silent as he puts his weapon away, "What message?" he is basically ignoring he others here. -Moonlight chuckles softly at Cinder's final words to the Autobots. "Nice touch," she adds once they're out of audial shot...and then some. It doesn't hurt to be careful, which is something that Moonlight rarely does. But when she /is/ careful, she makes sure she does a good job. -Cinder looks at Moonlight once he was out of sight, wings shaking before relaxing "What?" -Silentlight turns to face Cloak and seeing how Moonlight is still in striking distence, decides to forego /that/ message. He calmly replies with Cinder's message, "Cinder merely wished to say to Ultra Magnus that he still is with out mech fluid on his hands." -Moonlight shrugs lightly. "The bit about the message. Might put Silentlight on the spot...and he might end up giving the wrong message. Though I can certainly understand why you said that." -Cinder narows his optics, hissing "Calls himself just..." he spits, wings snapping open, behind Moonlight almost protectively. -Moonlight fights the urge to pat Cinder's shoulders again, quite the concession on her part. "Well, he's suffering from severe dellusions then." She shakes her head. "I mean, if they /want/ to be the good guys, then they should start acting like it, right?" She puts her hands on her hips again. "We should probably start heading home. I don't trust Cloak one bit." -Cloak shrugs, "Very Well. If that is not the message I will know in due time." He turns and begins to follow Cinder and Moonlight. -Cinder nods "Yeah.. I guess." he states, wings retracting once more. "Shouldn't have spoken. said too much. They know weakness now." 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. Cinder Jostle's Room - KEEP OUT! Dirge's Den Cinder's Room Sylver's Quarters Recruits' Dorm TurmOil's Room Novastar's Quarters MoonGate 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 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