Just a little longer. I need them to think I've come over to their side and I need my computer access back. Slouching in her chair Nightstalker smiled and nodded as a mech walked past her and waved. Only Windstorm left then I can put my plan into action. Oh yes, he will pay and pay dearly for what he did. Standing up she left the room and headed outside to meet with the others who were already milling around in a group.
----------------------------------------------
Above the commotion a loud booming voice rang out clearly. "Ok settle down and listen up. You all know your assigned positions but stay aware of where your fellow comrades are at all times. I don't want any friendly fire incidents cause someone was slaking and has an itchy trigger finger." Raising his arm Windstorm saluted his troops who similarly returned the gesture. That is, all but Nightstalker who stood in the back, arms folded across her canopy. However Windstorm did not notice this display as he was busy examining those in front of him. "Go now, find those last two cons and remember no prisoners."
Swiveling around Windstorm headed back inside as Refit continued to issue orders. As he walked he saw Tunnelers construction group approaching him. Reaching out Windstorm grabbed onto Tunnelers arm and held him back. Coming to a stop Tunneler gestured to the others, who also had stopped, to continue on.
Waiting till the others were out of audio range Windstorm then spoke quietly to Tunneler. "I am keeping Nightstalker assigned to your group. Come up with some excuse but do not let her fly. When you return I want a full report on everything she said and did." Letting go of Tunnelers arm Windstorm continued his way up the hall.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The last search group, tired like all the rest, had finally returned and reported in. Now that all the teams had arrived back, from what was apparently an unsuccessful search and destroy mission, Windstorm could start meticulously reading over all the reports, Tunnelers in particular. Well it looks like she obeyed every order she was given and did not try to escape. maybe the others are right and she has come over to our side. It's not like she has anywhere else to go. Upon reflection and deciding to go with the majority of his officers, Windstorm opened the base communications and called Nightstalker to his office.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting in the commons with Tunneler and the others Nightstalker paused drinking her Energon as the page came over the comm. Now what does that wind bag want? Continuing to drink she noticed that it got quiet suddenly. Peering over the rim of the glass she could see those at the table looking at her as if waiting for her to do something. After watching them watch her for a while she snapped "What?"
Nobody said anything till a small and timid voice was heard. "Well aren't you going to go? You did hear Windstorms page?" Slowtrack asked from the very end of the table.
Putting her glass down Nightstalker turned to look at the small but broadly built robotrix at the end of the table. Staring at her in silence she tried to remember when this one was brought into the group. Now who is this? Oh yah, I think she came with the other replacements two weeks ago. Does she really think that she can tell me what to do? I don't like her already.
Seeing Nightstalker glaring at her in silence caused Slowtrack to slump down a bit in her chair. Oh! Did I say something wrong? Why is she looking at me like that? Her nervousness increased as she watched Nightstalker flicking her fingers against each other on her right hand. She had heard through roomers that Nightstalker was actually a decepticon even though she wore no symbol of allegiance. Even so she learned quickly that nobody mentioned it or asked for conformation. Even the officers appeared to avoid this topic.
"That old oil clog can wait. Can't imagine it is too important." Taking her hand she shoved the empty glass towards Slowtrack but it only managed to make it halfway down the table. Standing up Nightstalker walked over to the dispensers to get another drink.
"No Nightstalker. You should go to see him now." Tunneler spoke up between his drinks.
Those sitting at the table saw Nightstalkers wings twitch at Tunnelers comment and her pause before turning around. Holding her glass she walked back over and sat down in her chair. Taking a drink she placed the glass back on the table. "Oh really! And who is going to make me?"
At that the room fell silent and all optics were directed to Nightstalker and Tunneler as the two stared each other down. Reaching out Tunneler went to take her drink away but froze as Nightstalker quickly and suddenly removed from her side one of her daggers and dug it deep into the table barely missing his hand. Her red and his blue optics locked on and nothing moved in the room. All that could be heard we a few just audible gasps as others took in what just happened. Maybe I was wrong about her. She has quite the defiant decepticon streak coming out right now. Could those rumors actually be true after all? Pushing his chair back as he stood up "I will make you go. As a member of this team you are under my instruction. Being so consider it an order."
Taking a long, deep vent Nightstalker narrowed her optics as she slowly twisted her dagger out of the table. Returning it to her side she replied begrudgingly "Fine. Sir." Standing up she paused to stare at Slowtrack, who squirmed under her gaze, before leaving and heading up to Windstorms office.
Once she had left Turnbelt was the first to break the silent tension. "I'd say those rumors about her are true. She certainly displayed some very characteristic con like qualities right there."
With that the room erupted with conversation as everyone expressed their option on that matter. That is except Tunneler who leaned back in his chair and silently contemplated.
-----------------------------------------------------
Reaching his office she knocked on the door and waited till she heard his permission to enter. Walking in as the door slid open she stopped and waited for Windstorm to finish talking with two other mechs. Standing at the back of the room she looked around the office not noticing anything in particular. Finally they finished talking and as the two left they exchanged glances with Nightstalker. I think they are starting to become suspicious of me. I will have to be extra careful of my behavior. Especially back there in the commons, that got out of hand. Seeing Windstorm gesture her forward she approached his desk and sat down but not before spinning the chair around so that it didn't catch on her wings.
"It was nice of you to respond so quickly." He stopped as Nightstalker made a sound but decided to ignore it. Clearing his vocalizer Windstorm continued on. "I have decided that you have proven yourself to us and in doing so I am returning your privileges and computer access. You are no longer confined to the base nor need to be escorted anywhere. I am glade you chose the right side."
Looking across at Windstorm she smiled. Oh perfect now I can put my plan into action when the right time arrives. "Thank you. It will be so nice to be able to get out and fly again. I am assuming that I am allowed to do that now?"
Nodding his head "Yes you are allowed. Now if you excuse me I have to get back to all this paperwork."
Standing up she smiled slightly and left the office. Walking back to her room she decided to give it another few days before attempting anything.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Having regained her computer access Nightstalker brought up the daily duty roaster on the computer in her quarters. After finding out that Refit was off duty for the next three days she knew this was the opportunity she had been waiting for and decided to put her plan into action. Getting up she collected the small amount of personal items she had and placed them in her subspace pocket. Looking around at what she could not take, she allowed for a moment of reflection, knowing that returning was not an option. Going back to the computer she located Refits current location. Perfect. He is down in the lower levels. Wonder what he is doing down there? Oh well works for me. Keying in a command code she turned and left her quarters for the last time as the computer started to delete files and initiated a program that knocked out the security cameras at specific locations for a period of time. Grinning to herself as she walked the halls bet Tunneler's going to regret teaching me that trick.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The silence was the hardest thing to bare as it left him alone with his thoughts. Everyone told him it was the right thing to do and he agreed, yet part of him was sickened by what he did. Picking up the metal crate he placed it on the table. Nobody knew that he had secretly snuck into Riverruns quarters and collected all his personal items. He knew it was dangerous to keep such items and that is why he hid them down here, in the lower levels that nobody ever accessed except for repairs.
Lifting the lid he reached in and shuffled through various data pads, holo pads and other items. Selecting something in the lower corner he lifted it out. Looking at what was in his hand caused Refit to laugh. In his hand was an old, burnt out power cell. "I can't believe he kept this. This is the battery he had to remove from me during our first duty shift together. I never would have made it to Fastscan with it overloading like that. He saved my spark that day." A twang of guilt hit Refit like a bomb blast. "He saved me numerous times and I…I killed him." As the memory of that event flashed back into his processor Refit slumped down onto a crate, knocking over the box on the table with his arm and spilling the contents.
Sitting slumped with one arm lying on the table, his other trembled as the shock of what he did finally set in. I, I killed him. They said it had to be done but did I really have to kill him? Was there a moment I could have put him offline? Running the fight over in his head he came to the conclusion that there was no other way. It was kill or be killed. As his optics wandered to the floor they settled upon an odd looking data pad. Strange. Didn't notice that one before. Reaching down he picked it up and turned it on. Scanning through the first few files he was shocked to discover what it was. "This is a journal log! I didn't know he kept one." Feeling like he was intruding on his dead friends' personal life he motioned to turn it off when a file title caught his attention. Stopping his thumb just above the power button he redirected it up to select that particular file. Waiting for it to open Refit looked up and around the room to see if anyone was present. After confirming that he was alone he looked back down at the file. It was a video recording set in among written files. As it started to play and even though he was prepared Refit was still shocked to see Riverrun talking on the screen. Sitting back he watched what he had to say.
The screen flickered and went fuzzy as Riverrun reached up and adjusted the camera to center on him. Leaning back in his chair he stared at something off camera. "Data log 143-239. The tension in this place is starting to get up there and I worry that it is almost at the breaking point. I hope that this is just me being paranoid and that it does not come to pass. If it does then I will lost contact with Refit and while I'd never admit it he is the only friend I have ever made. As Deceptions we don't make friends that much, especially with autobots. Come to think of it that is one reason why I should not tell Nightstalker who she is. She is so close with Sunspot that it might cause a rift. I wonder though, would it make that much of a difference? Still I have recorded a file for her explaining everything but…" There was silence for a while as Riverrun though of something then continued speaking. "Logically all data is pointing to a rift in the factions soon. It may be peace time but there is the possibility that I may lose contact with Nightstalker if that should happen. Being so I think I will ask Refit if something should happen to look after her for me. It only follows since she is so close to Sunspot. But then again I would have to tell him who she really is and they may try to change her. Hum….no I trust him with my spark and being so I know he can keep that secret. I will talk to him in 2 days just to give me some more time to think about it." Sitting still for a moment in though Riverrun then turned to the camera "Computer end recording" and with that the screen on the pad went blank.
Staring at the blank screen Refit noted the record date displayed in the lower corner. Recorded only the day before the bombing. I didn't think they decided to leave that suddenly. Sorry Riverrun, you placed your trust in me and I betrayed it. Hearing a sound in the hallway he quickly gathered up the spilled contents, replaced them in the box and then returned it to it's hiding place. Spinning around he saw the red glow of Nightstalker optics staring at him from the dark hallway. "Umm, Nightstalker is something the matter?"
---------------------------------------------------------
"Of all the circuit glitching, oil spillage. Why are they blinking out?" The poor robotrix that was placed on duty was about to blow a servo. Looking up at the monitors she watched as one camera would short out and then come back online, while another one froze on the same time stamp. Placing a hand on her forehead she opened a comm. to Turnbelt. "Turnbelt we got a problem with the monitoring systems."
"What do you mean there is a problem? Sorry but you will need to be more specific than that."
Rolling her head back she made a strangling motion with her hands. "Fine. I'll clarify for you. The monitors, approximately and currently four - that's two plus two - in the communication room, third floor - that's above the second - are blinking - as in turning on and off - for a particular but non specifiable period of time. Others, approximately 5 monitors, are stuck on the same continual time stamp - as in repetition. I need you to come up here and fix said problem - the monitors - ASAP - as in now. Is that specific enough for you?"
"You didn't need to be that specific. I will be up there in one bream." Closing the link Turnbelt vented as he picked up the necessary tools. "Robotrixes! Always such a pain in the skid plate."
------------------------------------------------------
Crossing the entry way she pulled the door closed behind her and locked it. Turning around she narrowed her optics on Refit, completely expressionless.
Something about her behavior made Refits battle computer activate. "Is something that matter? Do you need to talk?"
In the dim light it was hard to make her out except for the red glow of her optics. "Yes I guess you could say that we need to talk." As she walked towards Refit her right hand slowly went down to her side and detached one of her daggers.
------------------------------------------------------------