Oracle wanders into the Golden Blaster, looking for a familiar face.
Ripsaw is there nursing an Enerbeer shaking his head, "....This just doesn't make any sense.."
Oracle, upon hearing Ripsaw talking, but not quite hearing what he said, moves over to him. "Pardon me, but did you just say something?"
Ripsaw looks up and peers at Oracle, "Bwa? oh, yeh..yeh I did.." he sips the beer, "...Why?"
You say, "Well, I wasn't sure who you were talking to, or what you said, so I decided to ask. I don't believe we've met."
Oracle extends a hand. "I'm Oracle."
Ripsaw nods and shakes the hand, "..uh..er.." he shrugs, "Name's Ripsaw."
Oracle takes a seat. "Pleased to meet you. I see by your markings that you are a Decepticon."
Ripsaw nods and says, "Yup...unfortunately."
Oracle quirks an optical ridge. "Unfortunately...How so?"
Ripsaw shrugs and says, "Seem to be the only one around here....whole con ranks seem to be dyin' and disappearin' and whatnot."
You say, "Disappearing?"
Ripsaw nods, "Yeahhh."
Oracle sounds slightly concerned. "Who's been disappearing?"
Ripsaw hmms and says, "Well, almost everybody."
Ripsaw nods and says, "Makes a mech damned lonely, so he turns ta beer."
Darkraid stirs slowly, raising his form up off the bar.
Oracle smiles to herself. "Lonliness has never been a problem with me. I don't have anyone to tell me who I can and cannot talk to."
Ripsaw nods and says, "Eh, well. We also have Regs to follow."
Oracle notes Darkraid and smiles a greeting.
You say, "I follow only myself."
Darkraid blinks his optics a few times to focus them and scans the bar.
You say, "Hello Darkraid."
Darkraid finally focuses on Oracle, "Oh, hello Oracle"
You say, "And how have you been as of late Darkraid?"
Darkraid closes his optics and sighs before reopening them, "Honestly...terrible..."
Oracle's voice takes on a sympathetic tone. "Why? What's wrong?"
Ripsaw hmms and goes back to his beer-bottle.
Darkraid pushes the mass of mugs away from him (there's about 12), "You didn't hear about Triage and Onslaught?"
Oracle glances at the mugs. "I've heard their names mentioned in connections to something bad, but I don't know what. What happened?"
Ripsaw says, "They're dead."
Darkraid nods solemnly, "Yeah and Triage was created by the same people that made me..."
Oracle glances at Ripsaw. "That's horrible."
Oracle turns back to Darkraid. She looks sad. "I know you're close to her. I'm sorry for your loss."
Ripsaw says, "Just don't make any sense though...""
Darkraid says, "So am I...."
Oracle speaks hesitantly. "How...did they die?"
Darkraid says, "Arbiter"
You say, "I don't believe I'm familar with that particular individual."
Darkraid says, "Sadistic Bot..."
You say, "Why did he kill them?"
Darkraid growls, "Does it matter?" He's obviously a bit overenergized and still upset
Ripsaw says, "It just don't make sense."
Oracle's tone is distant. "Perhaps it does matter."
Darkraid shrugs, "Frankly I could care less why he did it. I just know he's going to wish he hadn't..."
Oracle puts a hand on Darkraid's arm. "Don't do anything rash."
Darkraid blinks and looks down at the hand then back at Oracle, "Right now that's about all I can do..."
Oracle's speaking a little louder than usual, with a little more expression. "If two members of your faction have died, they don't need you to join them..."
Darkraid says, "Yeah, well Triage is about the only reason I was created let alone joined the Empire. So I suppose there's not much keeping me here right now is there?"
You say, "You're still a citizen of this planet. You might not have had control over the death of your sister, but you do have control over what you do now. Besides, I'm certain she wouldn't like to see you this way if she were here."
Ripsaw says, "......Just...don't make sense."
Darkraid says, "She's seen me like this before..."
Oracle turns to Ripsaw. "What doesn't make sense? You've repeated that sentiment several times?"
Ripsaw says, "...How...does a medic....kill a tank like Onslaught?"
You say, "And if she were a good friend to you, she would have tried to get you out of such a foul mood. Just as I'm trying to get you out of your current mood."
Oracle looks at Ripsaw for a moment. "This Arbiter is a medic?"
Ripsaw says, ".....I'm pretty sure...that's what all of them are, right?"
You say, "All of whom?"
Ripsaw says, "The reds."
Darkraid shrugs at Rippy's comment, "Have no idea." He looks at Oracle and sighs, his shoulders fall and his head droops some.
You say, "I don't think all of them are medics. If that were the case, the war would have been over eons ago."
Mecha-Feline stalks into the room.
You say, "I'm sure you're still helpful to your faction. If not, certainly someone values you."
Ripsaw says, "...Don't worry Darkraid, someone'll get Arbiter.."
Ripsaw says, "Might even be me."
Darkraid says, "He's mine..."
Mecha-Feline peers from one face to the next. Idly slinking to the table near this group.
Oracle turns her head from the two less-than-happy Decepticons to nod a greeting to Mecha-Feline.
Darkraid looks up at Oracle, "Little good that did for Triage. As for being valueable to someone, who?"
Ripsaw looks at the cat and blinks.
Ripsaw says, "...Ce...?"
Ripsaw shakes his head and looks back at his beer, "....no."
Mecha-Feline seems to have been spotted so moves out of the shadows. She leaps up onto a bar stool and purrs to the bartender. "Icee."
You say, "I consider you a friend, and in these times, friends are valuable. And I'm sure you must have other friends."
Mecha-Feline also ordera a round for the others.
Ripsaw looks at the cat and says, "...Ehhhh, no offense little kitty, but..." he looks at the ICEE, "...I can't get drunk offa that."
Oracle nudges Ripsaw. "I think we should make it a point /not/ to get you drunk. You seem to be in a bad enough state as it is."
Darkraid looks to the drink as it arrives and pushes it towards Ripsaw, "You can have mine..."
Oracle turns to Mecha-Feline. "Thanks."
Mecha-Feline nods and sips at her icee.
Ripsaw nods and smiles, "..Well, if you're payin' then, much obliged, ma'am." he nods at Darkraid and then peers at Oracle, "...Eh, why you criticize how I live my life anyhow? huh? I can handle my liquor."
Darkraid looks back to Oracle, "You don't tend to make many friends in the Empire..."
You say, "Because you seemed to have suffered an emotional blow, and that leads people to do rash things. And that's /before/ the liquor hits you."
Mecha-Feline finishes her drink and jumps off her stool. She stalks over to the group. "May I join you?" she purrs
Oracle smiles whimsically. "Then is the Empire really worth fighting for? What good is your empire's idea of peace if everyone remains so distant?"
You say, "Sure. The more the merrier...and at this point, we need merrier."
Ripsaw shrugs and shakes his head, "...I'm just sayin' that this whole thing don't make sense."
You say, "The both of you seem sad, angry, and vengefull. That doesn't make a good combination with drunkeness."
Mecha-Feline jumps up to the stool nearest Ripsaw.
Darkraid says, "We don't. As of right now it's a bit hard to make friends who won't attack us or run away at the first sign of agression or trouble...."
Oracle stands up, collects all the empty mugs in her arms, and takes them away. She then returns to her seat.
Ripsaw looks at the cat and shakes his head, "...Y'know, you remind me of someone."
Mecha-Feline purrs. "My mother perhaps?"
Ripsaw hmms and says, "...Who was yer mother, eh?"
Mecha-Feline says, "Celare."
Ripsaw blinks.
You say, "I haven't run from anyone yet, Darkraid."
Mecha-Feline says, "Ah I see you knew her."
Darkraid nods, "No you haven't...." He sighs again and looks towards the door.
Ripsaw nods and says, "...Yeah, I did..actually."
Oracle pats Darkraid on the shoulder. "You seem to be in pretty bad shape. Maybe we should get you away from all this drinking."
Darkraid nods, "Sound like a good idea..."
Oracle stands up and heads for the door.
Darkraid stands slowly and follows after ORacle
Mecha-Feline says, "Bye."
Mecha-Feline offers to the two leaving. She looks back to Ripsaw. "How well did you know her?"
Oracle nods a farewell to Ripsaw and Mecha-Feline.
*exits*
Oracle sits by the fountain for a moment.
Darkraid sits down next to Oracle and sighs.
You say, "Where would you like to go?"
Darkraid says, "I honestly don't care right now"
Oracle sighs. "If only we weren't in this stupid war. Then your sister would still be with you."
Darkraid shrugs, "Perhaps..."
You say, "If you still have as much faith in your cause as you did last time we spoke, then you are truly an unshakable mech."
Darkraid says, "Well I've at least got to see my current assingment through. I can't just up and leave in the middle of a project."
You say, "Are you on assignment?"
Darkraid says, "It's my cycle off"
You say, "When are you expected to be on duty again?"
Darkraid says, "Perhaps next cycle"
You say, "How is the rest of your faction taking these deaths?"
Barricade clanks in from the east....
Darkraid shrugs, "Don't know and currently don't really care...though Ripsaw looks to be hitting it harder than usual..."
Uproar comes in, his steps more subdued but still slightly above normal sound levels, his lower face mask on, along with a total pitch black visor over his optics...
Oracle nods, almost absently, to the newly arrived people.
Uproar looks around, as he heards through...staring at the city scape.
Barricade's clanking toward the Blaster or Casino...he's not sure yet.
You say, "So I noticed."
Barricade hears his name and turns, "Uproar!" he yells back over the crowd.
Darkraid nods and leans onto Oracle a bit.
Uproar steps through the crowd, "Hey Man...where ya headed?"
Barricade grins, "Blaster or Casino...not sure yet. Where you goin'?"
Oracle watches the other two idly as she speaks with Darkraid. "Maybe we should get you back home."
Uproar hrmms "Was headed for the Blaster myself...kinda need to relax...been a very tense day."
Barricade nods, "I know what your talking about. Ever since this speedshift thing I've been pulling double the paperwork so Bracer can devote more time to working on the case." he sighs, "Let's get goining."
Uproar nods and steps throug the crowd to head for the blaster
*Barricade and Uproar leave*
Darkraid shakes his head, "Don't feel like going back yet..."
You say, "It's up to you of course."
Darkraid nods and unthinkingly slips an arm about Oracle, "Thanks"
You say, "You're welcome. I just don't want you to do anything rash, especially after seeing the pile of mugs in front of you."
Darkraid blinks and joins his hands, both arms now encircling Oracle's waist, "How many?"
Oracle's tone is calm, but she seems a little uncertain nonetheless. "About 12 mugs I believe. I cleared them away after a bit. I don't know if you noticed."
Darkraid says, "No I didn't." He pauses, "Twelve? What in the inferno was I drinking...."
You say, "I'm not sure, they were all empty."
Darkraid nods and sighs, "I think I started with White Energon..."
You say, "I don't think that's what it ended with."
Darkraid nods and rests his head against Oracle's shoulder.
Oracle looks slightly uncomfortable, but says nothing.
Darkraid looks at Oracle momentarily.
You say, "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
Darkraid hmmms, "Maybe...."
You say, "Just don't do anything rash until you've calmed down and thought about it for a while, okay?"
Darkraid hmmms, "Maybe....."
You say, "Well, if you got yourself dead, then who would pull me away from the Bar?"
Oracle laughs lightly.
Darkraid chuckles and nods.
Darkraid hugs Oracle closer, "I suppose you could find someone...."
Oracle falls silent.
Darkraid says, "You're awfullly quiet...."
Oracle shrugs.
Darkraid leans back, pulling away some.
Lunar walks in, keeping to the shadows, out of sight.
Lunar is hiding in the shadows.
Fallout walks into the area somewhat blearily.
Dust is crawling through the area, chasing a turbo rat on all fours. She does, however, try to keep to the shadows.
Fallout blinks.. and double-checks her radar.
Fallout looks around.. Darkraid and Oracle in plain sight.. Lunar.. easy enough.. and.. Dust..
Dust pauses to sniff the air. Utoh. Con readings.
Oracle notices Dust and smiles friendishly to her.
Dust smiles back timidly and puts a finger to her mouth and makes a shh sound. she hopes no one sees her.
Oracle looks away from Dust, in hopes that she doesn't call attention to her.
Lunar recognizes Fallout, and hopes she doesn't check her radar. He glances towards the shush, but has bigger concerns right now.
Fallout walks over to Dust. She obviously is tired, but doesn't seem otherwise different than usual.
Dust utohs under her breath. Fallout saw her. She transforms and tries to skitter away
Dust transforms into Mix-hauler.
Darkraid blinks and follows Fallout with his optics. He blinks and stands quickly and follows after the mix-hauler
Mix-hauler peels rubber with a loud squeal!
Fallout sighs. She doesn't want to have to get into a chase.. she transforms.
Fallout folds up into a small ovoid with wings.
Mix-hauler yells "go way!" as she peels out.
E.R. wanders in, eyeing the rather large mixhauler and whatever fallout TFs into.
Oracle follows after Darkraid.
Zipjet guns her jets and goes after Dust.. and a front port opens.
Darkraid grumbles and trundles after Dust as best he can
Mix-hauler transforms and points. yes, she points at fallout and darkraid "no make me use this."
Dust transforms into Dust.
Lunar sees what's happening. "Oh slag," he says, announcing his presence. "Dust, cool it."
Dust says, "They gonna kill Dust!"
Zipjet says, "Dust- halt or I'm gonna have to do the stopping for ya."
E.R. steps forward, ahh yes..the medic with the bearings of chrome steel, he clears his emmitter rathe audibly, "ahem..."
Dust says, "Wait. this crystal city. Dust shoudl be safe here.
Oracle moves towards Dust.
Lunar walks out of the shadows. "Fallout . . . ma'am . . . it might work better if you promised not to hurt her if she stops now."
Dust backs up against a wall. finger outstretched.
Darkraid looks at Dust, "No we're not. We are merley going to take you back to DArkmount as ordered" He puts his hand by his left hip though, just in case
Oracle moves as close to Dust as possible, figuratively hovering over her in an almost protective way.
Dust narrows her optics untrusting.
Dust says, "take me back. so they torture dust. hmm."
Zipjet says, "Dust.. I ain't gonna hurt ya. I have a headache and would rather not have to deal with this at all. But, orders are orders. You know I can stop you without putting so much as a scratch on ya."
Lunar sighs, muttering something about mindless drones who follow orders. "Dust, you should have gone back before. C'mon back, and I'll go back with you." Lunar is not speaking friendly, after all there are others around.
Dust says, "well dust was on her way back..but.."
Dust says, "she got 'stracted."
E.R. crosses his arms, again, clearing his emmiter, "YOU alll wanna explain to me what's going on...'cause It's not impressing me...frankly..I'm getting tired of watching several cons go after a kidlet.."
Dust says, "and now they gonna kill her again."
Dust says, "Dust may hafta leave crystal city. not good to stay here. it putting city at risk for harboring fug..fug..runaway"
Lunar shakes his head. "They're not going to kill you. Not if you go back now and tell them what happened. If you don't, they might. The choice is easy."
Oracle speaks up. "What, might I ask, is going on here?"
Zipjet drops to the ground and retransforms. She glares at Lunar. "Look. Best not to speak unless you know what the slag you're talkin' about, and I mean that."
Fallout unfolds into her usual six-limbed robot form
E.R. holds his hand out towards the cons, "pretty obvious..they're trying to take dust against her will oracle..."
Lunar sighs. "I know that Dust is going to be hunted if she doesn't come back of her own free will, and I don't like that . . . ma'am." Ma'am was NOT said nicely.
Dust sucks her thumb. "dust sorry. Tell snoop dust sorry"
Oracle looks to ER for a moment. "That doesn't answer the question 'Why?'"
Darkraid looks at Lunar than Oracle, "Orders..."
Fallout sighs. "Dust put herself under the protection of the Decepticons. As such, she's expected to obey the rules. Otherwise, she voids our protection.. and I do remember what got her into that mess in the first place."
Oracle turns to Darkraid. "Your orders?"
Dust says, "Protection, yeah. right."
Darkraid says, "they were given by Onslaught and Ghost."
Fallout says, "Dust, before you came with us, BOTH sides were going to kill you, especially the autobots, for leaking secrets."
Oracle lowers her voice. "I thought she was your friend."
E.R. smiles, being ignored by the cons, this gives him an excuse to...exagerate, "ahh yes..oracle..you see..this is the GREAT decepticon empire it takes..let's see..one..two..three..three decepticons to, dare I say, kidnap a young kidlet..and..fallout dear..why should she be protected by those who she believes is going to attak her"
Dust says, "the autobots were. the cons just wanted to take vantage of kidlet. Dust know that now."
E.R. smiles, "she was..until they didn't have a use for her anymore.."
Dust says, "can..dust use frequency real quick. she want tell snoop she sorry his friend die."
Lunar pats his plasma rifle. "You . . . the Bot . . . I suggest you shut up. I tend to get angry."
Dust says, "he only a little kid. dust sure he take it bad."
Fallout says, "Dust -is- my friend. I've always dealt straight up with ya, Dust, and you can't undo the past."
E.R. snickers, "your..gonna shoot me in Crystal City...why..that..is not a wise decision.."
Dust nods to fallout "you just do wot told. dust understand."
Slipshod walks into the Esplanade, a datapad in hand and a ominous mallet on his shoulder.
Darkraid looks around. "I gotta jet. Oracle, thank you but I have another friend to help out....Snoop if you know him..also a kidlet..." He turns towards the gates
Lunar smiles evilly. "When I get angry I'm not always wise. But I AM always deadly."
Dust seems very emotionless. Strange for the kid.
Fallout glares over at Lunar. "Belay that attitude here in Crystal City."
E.R. grins a lop-sided grin..this cons a braggart..and he's cocky, "ALways..are you positive it's always?"
Dust starts to toddle off, not telling anyone where she's going.
Slipshod looks up from the datapad, "Hey! Could you keep it down? I'm trying to track Speedshift."
Oracle moves to follow Dust.
Fallout looks back over at Dust (radar!). "Dust.. you hafta come home.. you're only getting yourself deeper into trouble and I don't have many folks to hang out with nowadays."
*Darkraid leaves*
Dust says, "Don't you see Fallout. If dust go home, she die."
Dust says, "she die slow.."
Dust says, "until she die from it."
You say, "What could she have possibly done to warrant such an assembly of her own people?"
Dust says, "Dust hugged wee vamp. that wot she do."
Slipshod walks over to the group, tapping the datapad on on his chest impatiently, "Okay, I've sucessfully lost him; What's going on here?"
Fallout gets an odd look in her eyes. "Dust, if they're gonna kill you, they'd have done it by now.. besides, I wouldn't let them do it easily."
Lunar mutters to Fallout: "... . ... . ... . ... ... let me ... ... her. ... ... ... ..."
Oracle arches an optical ridge. "Is that all?"
Dust says, "they gonna torture dust."
Fallout mutters to Lunar: "I'm one of her oldest ... if ... won't ... ...  ... sure ... slag ... listen to ..."
Dust says, "they want hear her scream first dust sure."
E.R. turns his attention away from the con, his apperance..slightly disturbs E.R...though, the medic won't admit it, this war's done worse, he turns towards dust and fallout, trying desperately to ignore lunar, "Fallout..she doesn't want to go...respect her wishes.."
Oracle stands right next to Dust.
Slipshod turns to E.R., slightly impatient, "What's going on here?"
Fallout says, "They may punish you, Dust, I won't lie, but they're -not- going to torture you if I can help it."
Dust says, "why else wood on-swot tell dust to wait for kimakaze..who is con torturer...and that kimakaze will "re-educate" dust. dust know wot that mean. it mean dust gonna be hurting a lot."
Dust says, "that why dust run. she scared."
Fallout sighs and looks at ER. "I wish this all could have been averted.. but that was started several months ago.
Lunar narrows his optics slightly. "Dust, you shouldn't be scared. Decepticons aren't scared. You know that."
Dust nods "ceptic cons not scared" she murmurs
Slipshod sighs and turns from E.R. to face Dust, "Perhaps you can tell me what exactly is going on."
Oracle stamps her foot. "Would some one tell me exactly what is going on here!"
Dust looks a bit alarmed "dust go home though. Because she not want her friends out hunting for her when they gots funerals to attend."
E.R. mutters under his breath, "...but she's not a con.." he jerks his head up towards oracle and slipshod, "guys..ONslaught and ghost have sent out orders it seems to Capture dust here..for the purposes..if you've been paying attention..of re-education..commonly known by us 'non-decepticon' types as torture...dust doesn't want to go"
Lunar ignores the others. "When a Decepticon makes a mistake, he faces the consequences. Sometime it may hurt, but if you keep running for the results of your actions you will run all your life. Now, come back with us."
Oracle shakes her head.
Dust says, "Dust go home. to protect crystal city. to protect friends who would harbor her."
Dust says, "that why dust go home. she no want her friends hrut over her."
E.R. sighs.
Fallout nods to Oracle. "As I understand it.. Dust got herself into trouble and was forced to seek shelter with us. She wouldn't follow our rules, though, and got herself into more trouble. Certain elements in charge decided to try to teach her better through means meant for grown soldiers. So, Dust fled. We're now under orders to get her back into Darkmount. This is not to say that the previous treatment will continue, but the fault is on both sides of the issue.
Dust says, "Dust lose all friends who were cons. She not want ot lose anymore."
Lunar smiles slightly. "That is the brave thing to do Dust. Let's go. And remember what I told you about friends."
You say, "I think you're /all/ being stuborn and childish."
Slipshod looks so out of his depth that he's requiring waterwings and a diving bell.
Dust nods "friends just hurt that's all"
E.R. sighs, "heh...dust...I admire you...you made a tough decision" he puts a hand on her shoulder, "if you go..go knowing that..no matter what you may call you..I consider you friend.." he stands back and nods to fallout, "see that she's not hurt..."
Dust says, "dust go home now. she no friends wiff bots anymore. to protect them from her."
Fallout says, "Dust.. Triage is gone. If you run, I -know- the other cons are going to gun you down eventually. Let's just go home."
Dust says, "tweeage not like dust anyways."
Dust says, "but she miss tweeage."
Dust lowers her head "dust go home" she bites her lip
Lunar glances at Oracle and suddenly any, for the lack of a better word, humanity in his face disappears. He looks completely evil, red optics glaring from beneath his demonic mask. "And I don't like it, but unfortunetly if I disobey orders they'll slag ME."
Dust gives e.r a hug before leaving "dust love you..she cant show it no more.."
E.R. nods, "yes dust..I know..love ya too kiddo"
Dust bites her lip more and starts to run off "dust go home" she whispers.
Slipshod scritches the side of his helmet with his mallet and scritches his head, "Okay."
Fallout blinks at Dust. "Dust, How could you say Triage didn't like you?"
E.R. blinks, "wait..Triage is....is..dead?"
E.R. hrmms, "or don't you mean.Triage..DOESN't..not..not didn't"
Lunar glares at E.R., not saying anything, his optics burning with the Pit's fires.
E.R. isn't looking at lunar, he's looking at the ground, that..that bothers him..
Dust says, "when onsot order dust re-educated. she tell dust to go await punishment. she ...agrees..wiff...it...but..she gone now..she sleepy..she sleepy like dust's daddy."
Dust looks ready to cry. then she puts her hand over her optics and runs.
Fallout nods to ER. "You should catch up on your news. Arbiter killed her and Onslaught yesterday, then Silhouette danced on their remains."
Oracle's face lights up with anger mixed with quiet sadness.
Slipshod looks over at E.R., pausing in midscritch, "Yep. Funny thing, most people would fire her, not fire at her."
E.R. blinks, concern for his fellow medic, temprorarily overshadowed by dust's fit, "arb--and trige..and dust..and..th--no...no..that..no.."
Lunar sighs, following after Dust.
Fallout looks back at Dust and sighs. She begins to jog after.
Dust handles this like ..well. a 6 month old.
Oracle follows the Dust procession.
Dust continues to run north, no destination in mind, hand over her optics.
Slipshod spins his mallet in his hands, "Okay... This will require some detailed schematics... at a later date."
E.R. face contorts into a something akin to lunar's for a moment, the combination of information, dust's crying..the medic shakes his head, he just sighs..and walks south..he punches a lamp post on the way south, "SLAG!"
Fallout picks up speed and dashes past Dust, putting herself squarely ahead and planting her feet. "STOPPIT!"
Lunar runs in, after Dust. He speaks into his radio.
Dust runs pretty fast down an alley, and throws herself to the ground, sobbing.
Oracle follows after Dust, apparently having no intentions of stopping.
Lunar transmits a radio message.
Dust receives a radio message.
Dust is down in an alley where she pretty much threw herself. shes sobbing.
Lunar is running towards Dust, chasing after her.
Dust just lets herself cry, nt really listening to her radio.
You transmit ' Do you really want to go back.' to Dust.
Dust receives a radio message.
Dust transmits a radio message.
Dust transmits: ' n..no..ut dust put city in danger by being here.'.
Fallout dashes down the alley and pulls up by Dust. "Dust.. come on, Dust.."
Oracle is on the heels of whoever's chasing Dust.
Lunar stands over Dust. He kneels down and whispers something.
Oracle catches up to Dust.
Lunar mutters to Dust: " now you ... ... have ... ... ... we ... ... ... ... be  ... have to be Decepticons. ... ... cry for them  ... now we ... ... go ... You know ..."
Dust is sobbing, knowing one of her best frieneds in the world is dead and she lost probably about 10 others by wanting to go back to darkmount. She rubs her optics "twee-age.." she sobs then goes back to sobbing. She nods to lunar "dust..go back..she going back.."
Slipshod walks in, mallet conspicuously absent.
Lunar nods. "That is the best decision, Dust. Let's go."
Dust reaches over and gives fallout a hug.
Fallout hugs Dust back tightly and whispers, "thank you."
Dust then toddles out of the alley
You say, "What /is/ going to happen to her?"
Fallout sighs at Oracle. "I honestly don't know.. all I can do it hope, myself."
Slipshod walks over to Oracle, "Discplinary proceedures, re-education... possible psychosis and eventual suicide."
Dust shrugs "Dust be tortured until she no friends wiff bots no more."
Fallout watches the spy probe go by.
Lunar glares at Slipshot, his claws half extending before retracting again. "Shut up." His voice is dark as the Pit.
Dust sighs "now dust lose snoop too"
Oracle turns to Slipshod. "Is that true?"
Slipshod looks at Fallout, neutral anger in his optics, "You going to lie to the kidlet? I've seen what happens."
Lunar just says, "It won't." He continues staring at Slipshod. "And scaring the kid won't help."
Fallout looks back at Slipshod, more tired than anything. "Not if I can help it. I don't let friends go easy. I've lost too many already."
You say, "I still don't see why Dust 'deserves' this....."
Lunar mutters to Fallout: "You ... ... ... Snoop  I'll ... ... ... to ..."
Dust says, "dust was friends wiff bots that why."
Slipshod says, "Then let her stay here; know when to trust her friends. If she really is going to go through such tribulations, she is better here."
Oracle shakes her head. "It's all wrong."
Fallout shakes her head. "Whatever the result may be now, if she doesn't come voluntarily, she'll be branded a renegade.. and that's one of the few things inexcusable to our command."
Dust says, "dust..comming."
Dust sniffles. this isnt the time to cry, she knows.
Slipshod shrugs, "This is a decision that she had better make with her optics wide open and unclouded with factional nonsense."
Lunar walks over to Dust. He nods, no emotion visible on his face. "She's made that decision. And she's chosen wisely. And I resent you trying to talk an honorable Decepticon out of her chosen path."
Fallout sighs. "I know what the possibilities are.. and I think Dust knows.. and I'm just high enough rank to raise the inferno if they're headed too far.."
Oracle turns to Lunar. "As far as I understand, she hasn't hurt you, I don't see why she needs to be hurt /by/ you."
Lunar still is emotionless. "She has chosen her path, so shut up and deal with it."
Fallout turns a wry look on Oracle. "She joined with us to flee the 'bots.. then disobeyed orders. You should know what that means. It's the military."
Dust says, "tank chew for...trying to protect dust but it just get you in more trouble."
You say, "What orders?"
Fallout says, "To behave like a decepticon- in other words, to not do the sort of things that got her into this mess in the first place- like trade information."
Dust shrugs "dust ran way when they want torture her"
You say, "Children also don't belong in the military. Dust belong in Crystal City, not....""
Dust says, "dust wasn't trading information. she was huggig a friend."
Slipshod looks to Lunar, "Resent what you like, sir, but don't attempt to denegrate me because I have the programmed duty to tell stark truths. She is going to suffer pain and permanant psychological injury just because of former factional japery. Not exactly the warcrimes my predecessors was executed for..."
Fallout says, "I don't disagree- unfortunately, Dust got into a situation where she was in trouble with both sides and in more trouble with one, so she went to the other. It was her choice."
Lunar looks at Oracle. "What did I say about trying to talk her out of it? She has chosen her pathway. So shut up."
Fallout says, "Lunar- shut up. That's an order."
Lunar sighs. "Aye . . . ma'am." He looks at Dust and actually quirks a small smile, then his mask goes back to his impassive expression.
Dust says, "Dust just causing a lot of trouble isn't she?"
You say, "Meaning no disrespect, but I don't shut up for anyone. I know I'm not strong, and I don't fight, but I also follow no one but my own will. I believe Dust is being treated unfairly...."
Dust rubs at her decepticon symbols on her arms "dust gave up all fair things when she put this on"
Slipshod turns to Fallout, "Is there any way I can appeal this decision? Any way I can see clear to having her on the Hospice register as a monitor for Decepticon donated supplies?"
Oracle turns to Dust with an encouraging smile. "You are worth causing trouble over. I think you have a right to be free, not to be hounded like this."
Lunar doesn't even turn to face Oracle, and he doesn't speak. He just extends the claws on one hand, they glint in the starlight, long and deadly. Then he retracts them.
Dust smiles at slipshod "can dust?!"
Fallout again turns the wry look on Oracle. "She chose it, I'm afraid." She turns back to Dust. "I'm afraid you are, Dust, and I don't regret the lengths I go to over ya."
Fallout shakes her head at Slipshod. "Nobody posts someone they can't trust. And command doesn't trust Dust."
Dust says, "and dust no trust them. we happy that way."
Oracle turns to Fallout. "May I speak to you off to the side for a moment?"
Lunar looks at Dust, then at Fallout. He frowns, remembering her order. He turns back to Dust. "Begging your pardon, ma'am," he says tightly, "But can I just take Dust back to Darkmount? This conversation is going nowhere."
Fallout nods to Oracle. "Surely."
Dust says, "and only reason he raise stinkis because dust embarass him when he try to look like badaft by going to revamp."
Fallout sighs and nods to Lunar. "Yes, if Dust will go with you, you may."
((Missing conversation))
Slipshod nods slowly, "Listen, she's just a kidlet. It's my duty to put my life on the line 'ere. I'm willing to do whatever I can for her."
Oracle nods in agreement.
Fallout nods wryly to Slipshod. "You know that and I know that.. but to Razelore, she's a security risk. I -worked- for Razelore at one point. I know what that means.
Fallout shakes her head. "Razelore would gladly set you both side by side."
You say, "This question might seem inappropriate, but does Dust really do anything for your faction?"
Fallout says, "Yes."
Slipshod arches an optic ridge, "Beyond enlarging your headcount?"
You say, "What does she do, and is it vital to your cause?"
Fallout says, "She's a medic.. and an excellent tracker. Both vital to anyone, from a purely logical standpoint."
Oracle pauses for a moment, her eyes intently focusing on nothingness.
Fallout looks tired again. "And we could definitely use the medic, now.."
Slipshod grimaces slightly, "I am willing to go in her place. Send her here and I'll be your medic."
Oracle quirks a surprised optical ridge at Slipshod.
Fallout looks at Slipshod steadily. "Do you know what that means? You'd be a volunteer."
Slipshod closes his optics, "I know. Just. Make it happen."
Fallout says, "Gimme a few moments.."
*Fallout does mulitiple message relaying*
Oracle turns to Slipshod. "Are you certain you want to do this?"
Fallout turns back to Slipshod. "It's approved." She smiles wryly.
Slipshod shrugs, "The pay HAS to be better than Crystal City."
You say, "I admire your noble actions."
Fallout again smiles wryly. "Welcome aboard."
Darkraid comes back in grumbling
Slipshod sighs and puts on a smile, "Glad to be aboard."
Darkraid blinks and looks at Slipshod, then Fallout, and finally Oracle, "I'm going to go sit...join me if you want..."
Fallout grins at DR tiredly. "I'd say I need a drink, except I've had enough of that for the next few cycles."
Slipshod shrugs, "First one to the floor pays the bartab."
Darkraid snickers, "I said sit, not drink. I'm not even touching the stuff for a while myself..."
Fallout says, "Well, one of the benefits of joining our side is we do have a great bar."
Oracle smiles at the mention of the Decepticon's bar.
Darkraid facepalms.
Slipshod does also and mumbles around his hand, "I suppose this is the time to tell you that I do my best work while drunk, right?"
Darkraid nods.
You say, "Does this mean that Dust won't be punished?"
Fallout grins. "That's a great tradition amongst our medics."
Darkraid shrugs and heads south, "I'm going to the fountain..."
You say, "I'd better be going myself."
*exits*