A Plee for Freedom: Part 5
With a tough phsycial battle won, the Maximals now engage in a most trying mental struggle. It is to the courts where the Maximals must now prove thier story true against all odds.
PART FIVE
[The Hotel]
Switchblade stood gingerly as Solarflare made his way into the room, being careful not to bump her half healed arm in its CR sling. Though she smiled, the badger ‘bot gave an inward sigh. This was going to be difficult. How in good conscience could one pull a disappearing act on a friend, when she had been burned by that same act so many times? Switchblade was afraid that she didn’t have the words.
“So,” she heard Solarflare say hesitantly, “You wanna do something?” There was a sad look on his face that nearly broke the courier’s heart. It was obvious that his being here had made him very uncomfortable. She couldn’t blame him, though. He didn’t have a clue where he stood with her anymore. How could he have? She had always been so closed off emotionally. For all Solarflare knew, she might hate him…
Which was far from the truth.
But still... Switchblade waved him farther into the room, leading her companion to a pair of chairs situated near the vid screen. They both sat. A million things to say coursed through her mind, but in the end, “I don’t hate you,” was what came out. The words sounded stupid even as she said them, but what could she do? She had to start somewhere.
“I’m glad,” Solarflare replied uncertainly. “For a while there, I…well, I guess I didn’t know what was going on. You seemed so angry, and me, I should never have sprung that on you all at once. It was just…just,” Solarflare paused and took a long breath. “I had to say it. Just once. At least once. It was killing me to sit there and not say anything about what I was feeling, knowing that you, or me, or both of us might wind up dead before I could do it. I wasn’t thinking,”
Switchblade almost tried to correct him, saying that he had been thinking, but the words died on her lips. “Don’t worry about it,” she said instead. “I’m glad you said something. Really, I am,” Solarflare brightened a degree, pulling his gaze up from off of the floor at his feet. “I had always thought you were just being really nice. It was a welcome change from people like Chapel who wanted to kill me when I first arrived. And then, after that…I don’t know. I must have been blind,”
Solarflare gave a nervous laugh. “No, not blind,” he reassured. “There was stuff happening all around us then. Everything moved so quickly. In your place, I’m not sure I would have paid much attention to…” He searched for the word. “Me, I guess,” Switchblade smiled, which made him feel a bit better about the awkward conversation. It restored his confidence. For a moment the room was quiet. Neither ‘bot spoke. Finally, Solarflare opened his mouth. “But, uh, you know, I’ve gotta ask. Was there any time that you…you know, felt anything…for me?”
The badger’s answer was long in coming. “Maybe,” she said vaguely.
Solarflare’s gut tightened. “What kind of an answer is maybe?” he ventured politely.
“Maybe means that I don’t know how I feel about it. About you. There are so many emotions running around in my head, and I’ve shut them all out for so long, that I feel lost almost. It’s too much too fast,” Switchblade’s head sank perceptibly. “I know that you are a good and true friend,” she said. “That much at least I’m sure. I trust you. I know that if I ever needed help, that you’d be there. And that if you ever needed help, I would be there for you,” The courier looked up. “I trust you with my life, and that’s something I’ve never really done before. (She pushed a stray thought containing her ‘angel’ firmly aside.) For as long as I can remember it’s just been me, looking out for myself. No one to care about. No one to fall back on. Just me. So now that I do have someone, someone who…” she struggled with the words, “who loves me even…I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say or think or anything,” She took a weak breath, collecting her thoughts. “I’m messed up, Solarflare, big time. And I need to work through all of that before I could ever give you what you would deserve,”
Solarflare’s heart sank. “So, no I guess,” he said softly.
Switchblade shook her head and leaned forward. Reaching out with her good arm she took the finch’s hand in hers and looked him in the eyes. They were almost tearing. “No, that’s not it at all,” she said gently. “I feel closer to you than I have anyone ever in my life. We’re a team,” she said smiling. “Whether we become something more, though…I’m not sure yet. For that I need time. Give me that, and I’ll give you your definite answer,” Switchblade squeezed Solarflare’s hand warmly. “And whatever that answer turns out to be, know that I will always be there for you,” She released his hand. “You’re my friend god-dammit,” she said forcefully, “And nothing’s ever going to change that,”
There, she though. It was out in the open. She had to get away. Off of Cybertron, away from the Resistance and the Council Hearing. Away from everybody. Then she could start picking up the pieces of her one-track life, and make it into what she wanted. Switchblade knew that she needed time above all. That, for her, was the answer. She could only hope that it was an answer that Solarflare would accept.
For now at least.
Caska had long given up on sleep, instead working away at her office. Between writing and beefing up security for the next day, there wasn't any time for it. Fortunately, though Maximals had borrowed the design feature of a regular regenerative sleep cycle from organic orgnaisms, they could still go without it for a few days with minimal performance degradation.
She barely noticed an officer knocking at the door.
"Ahem, ma'am?"
"Yes, Surefire?"
"We just go ahold of this." He handed her the official report on the night's battle.
"Read it?"
"I skimmed through it."
"Is it bulls**t?"
"Um, well.. it certainly does seem like they saw a completely different skirmish than the one you did."
"That's what I thought.. Well, the best antidote to a coverup is always the truth. Here, I want you to release this to theproper channels."
Surefire looked over the datapad. "You're filing your own report?"
"I've already filed it with the director. It's the official report of Council Security now. That gives it a little more weight, which is needed if we have to go against the report of the Council itself."
"Huh.. well tomorrow should certainly be interesting."
"Indeed."
The fingers of one hand tapped idly on Dusty's opposite arm to the beat of the music in the Metal Mug as she leant against the wall and thought deeply about nothing much in particular. How she manages to do that is still a scientific mystery, but that's somewhat beside the point.
Even as the dingo femme pondered the deeper mysteries of not much, she was instinctively scanning the inside of the pub for anything interesting. Interesting things being friends, enemies, potential weapons, random people to pick a fight with, and stuff to eat. This kind of scanning was habit, and didn't require any thought whatsoever, which was useful.
So it was that Dusty's semiconscious noticed Phyphen and a bot Dusty didn't know enter through the door of the Metal Mug. Her semiconscious got Dusty's attention by giving her mind a hefty mental kick, pointed out Phyphen at the door, then went and hid behind her ego.
Dusty looked up, took her feet off the table and waved at the two in the doorway, hoping to get their attention without too much fuss.
"So what happens now." SOlarflare was about five seconds from breaking down. This was too much to bear. He knew it WHY WHYdid he put himself through this again, the same thing happened with Nocturna and he lost her and it was too late and know he felt he was going to lose Switch, maybe not forever like his old friend but forwhile anyway and that would be nearly the same hell.
Switchblade tryed not to look at Solarflare but her eyes decived her. She found herself looking at the finch with a tear running down his face. He was making this even harder then she expected. "I need some time to find myself. I need to be away from the resistance, from Cybertron."
A saddened "Why?" was all Solarflare could manage.
"I don't know..." Switchblade couldn't look at him now. "But don't think this is the end. I will come back.. I just need time..." She kicked herself he would never understand this..
"I understand." Was all he said even though he didn't, but he wasn't about to be rash. He thought about storming out putting up his own emotional defences and becoming a cold solider but he couldn't. "I should go." He said standing. He was even worse at a Goodbye. The finch quickly made his way to the door and prepared to Exit. "Please come back."
"I will." Solarflare had his back turned and he was crying.
"I'll always love you." Is the last thing he said before stepping out of the room and to the only place that he could go.
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Rhapsody's Room
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Rhapsody and Wraith had relocated to her room and we're still relaxing when the phone rang.
//Hello?//
//Yes Ms. Rhapsody there are a group of gentlemen here from the Maximal Conciul Interior guard. They are asking to speak with you.//
//Send them up.//
A moment later Three heavily armed Secuirty guards dressed in full battle gear had entered the Upstairs lounge. "What is the meaning of this?" Rhapsody said approaching from the hallway with Wraith right behind her.
"Commander Rhapsody." The Captain of the team said. "I am Captain Razorwing. Me and my team have been sent here to escort you to the Elders Garraks Safe area inside the citidel."
"You guys looked like your about to fight a small army." Wraith said. Each soldier had a heavy assualt Plasma Cannon and one had a Plasma Mini gun.
"We have been told that a large amount of people would like you not to testify tomorrow. So could please round up your men and come with us."
"Very well." She said. Rhapsody turned and headed back to her room and begin to grab all her materials Wraith assiting her.
"What the hell is going on!" Wraith said grabbing one of his bags.
"I don't know but i think we should go with them."
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Hotel CR Chambers.
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Two of the heavily armed guards approached the room and found Tundra standing between Vinoc and Retro. It seems after a good bit of arguing Tundra stepped out of the CR just in time to stop the brawl.
"Your commander has ordered you to come with us." One of the modeless bots said as he scanned the room.
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Elsewhere
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The guards had stumbled over several strange situations in rounding up the rest of the Maximals. Interupting a strange incident with a bounty Hunter that was interupting somthing. Trance had his weapons removed and was led downstairs to the others along with Mimi and Buckshot. The rest had been located at a local bar and another dance club where a fight was quickly broken up by the guards. Everyone was now gathered outside the hotel and were being instructed into armed transports. "Has anyone seen Switchblade and Solarflare." Rhapsody said looking around.
"I'll find him." Rita said heading back into the hotel.
The finch was sitting on the roof of the building his legs hanging over the side. His mind raced with thoughts of what just happened. Why did this happen. "WHHYY!" he yelled. A moment later Rita opned the door to the roof and called for him. "Solarflare! There you are come on we have to go. Have you seen Switchblade?" The finches head dropped.
"She's gone." He said quietly and stood heading down with Rita in silence and getting into one of the transports.
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Triped Conciul Members Seaclamps home
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"Then were in argeement? I get paid and protection if i come forward?"
"Yes aslong as you have sufficent evidence."
"I got plenty, Cidicon won't know what hit'em." A lone figure vanished from the vid screen as Seaclamp poured out a rather tall drink. He pressed another button and a line to his fellow councilmen was opened.
"It is done." He said sighing.
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Citidel's Barraks
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"Hey what the hell is going on!" Dusty said slamming her bag to the ground. "WHy are we getting moved again I was just about to start having fun. Rhapsody held her hands in the air to slience the uproar that was caused by Dusty.
"Resistance members we have been moved here until the trial for safe keeping. "The "Correctors" are here for our pertection" she said pointing to one of the heavily armed battle bots. "Please just remain calm, this will all be over by tomorrow night." SHe said with a bright smile but inside she was unsure as everyone else.
As Tremor suddenly awoke the one thing that caught his mind was the silence, it had been at least a cycle since he passed out but still even in that amount of time there was no way in hell that all of those fool resistance members would have left. Holding his head up and giving it a good shake to clear the momentary cobwebs Tremor inquired about the current situation to the bartender, taking his time becuase he could tell Tremor was still a bit shaky under the hood he explained about the armed security bots coming and rounding up the maximal resistance members. As the bartender finished Tremor tipped him and thanked him for the good news and began his walk home to his small apartment in the middle of the city, as far as he was concerned it was the best news he heard in a long time because those fools were apparently to his superiors he wasn't good enough to watch the backs of those fools or the councils. The only thought that brought him any real joy was the fact that those fools were most deffinitley up $#it creek without a paddle.
Wraith stayed close to Rhapsody. He didn't trust these soldiers and wanted to make sure they didn't try anything. If they so much as touched Rhapsody in any kind of aggressive manner...
"That guy's a soldier? He's barely outta his daipers." One of the troopers was sniggering to another. "I could take him in my sleep. What kind of resistance are they, letting children fight?"
This cought the wolfbot's ear. "I'm sorry, what was that? You wanna repeat yourself rustbucket?" He snapped. The trooper turned sharply, surprised that the youth had heard him, but stood firm nonetheless.
"I don't have to answer to you boy." Wraith's optics flashed angrily. "Oh, that one's gonna cost ya!" Without hesitation, Wraith hauled off and slammed his fist into the trooper's nose, nearly driving it into his head. The soldier retaliated by smashing the butt of his gun into Wraith's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
Rhapsody and the Maximal Commander jumped forward to pull the two bots apart. "Wraith, please!" A snap kick to the jaw sent the trooper reeling, but he recovered and charged again. "Corporal, stand down!"
Once separated, the two soldiers stared each other down and wiped mechfluid from their jaws. "Insolent punk!" The trooped jeered. "This punk just kicked your sorry..."
"Wraith! Please!" Rhapsody was still holding his arm, pulling him away from the unit. "Don't make this any harder than it is." Wraith nodded slowly, but still glared at the trooper.
Dusty growled to herself as she glanced around the barracks, taking in the layout of the place. She had -not- appreciated being hustled out of the bar by the 'Correctors' one bit; the only reason she'd gone along with them instead of making a fight out of it was the fact that her starfighter was still in the Xavior's hold, and she couldn't get the Whiplash out of the Xavior while the ship was still grounded. That, and she hadn't wanted to risk Phyphen getting hurt in any crossfire.
The dingo femme glanced over at where Phyphen and Cross were now standing in the barracks, then whirled around at the sounds of Wraith scuffling with one of the guards behind her. Her right hand went automatically to the shortened battlestaff on her left arm as her body tensed, ready for anything.
It was with some disappointment that Dusty watched Rhaspody and the maximal Commander break up the fight before it even got properly started, and she lowered her hand from her staff with a slight sigh. A good brawl would have been welcome right now, especially against those damn pushy maximal soldiers... maybe later there'd be an opportunity. She happened to catch Wraith's eye and winked at him, then mimed a gun with her hands and pretended to shoot one of the soldiers in the back of the head.
The young fox bot glanced around at their new surroundings.
She turned to Cross. "Well... I guess we can't stay at the bar after all. I wanted to have some fun..." Phyphen sighed inwardly, as she looked around her.
She caught glimpse of a bot fighting with the guards, while a femme tried to get him to stop. The Maximal noticed the female wolf bot, leaning against the wall - but couldn't find Querion. Wondering where he was, Phyphen caught glimpse of a friendly face.
Noticing Dusty, Phyphen grabbed Cross' hand and dragged him into her direction.
"Hiya Dusty! What are you doing here? And what's going on? I have no idea... but I'm gonna stay prepared."
a devilish grin crossed the child's face as she pulled three crossbow's out of her subspace pocket and in half a cycle she had them loaded up into her crossbow.
Listening for the satisfying click, Phyphen lowered her arm, where the crossbow mounted on her bracer lay.
"Oh yeah! this is Cross. He's a medical officer... right?" she said turning to Cross.
Nocticia had no clue what she was doing with these people. She had just helped them in one fight, got bandaged up by Cross and now she was up to her ankles in court proceedings. What if they called on her to testify? She had forged military documents but what if they asked her questions about being in the resistance? She didn't know anything about it. And then there was that thing that had gone on between her and Weede in the bar. It was something that was almost...magical.
Compromise had begun to bore her and she had locked eyes with the strange 'bot writhing on the dance floor. She had walked up slowly, helped him to his feet and the two began to grind sensually, until the dingus had tripped and pinned her to the ground. While she cursed and screamed at him, he just lay motionless atop her laughing. But then, he bared his neck to her. Nobody had ever done that before. The truth was that Weede was watching two women grinding in the corner, but Nocticia didn't need to know that. She drank from him and he let her. Truth is, he was clueless until later when he got light-headed, well more-so than usual.
"There! Done! Told ya ah could do it. Finest pieces of work ah'd done in a long time," mused the smith, as he looked at the swords he had forged.
Querion smiled, as he took up the swords from the smith's hands. They were forged in the manner of ancient Terran samurai weapons; 'katanas' they were called. The wolf-bot's mind reached deep into the catalogue of information on these swords he had gathered through his years, and smiled as he put a name to each of them. He ran his finger over the blades, feeling the dull edges caress his metallic flesh. The longer one was a sakabatou, or reversed-edged sword, and the shorter one was a kodachi. Querion sheathed both swords into their black lacquered scabbards, and dropped them. They fell, then hovered slightly above the ground, and rose floating around his waist. Satisfied, he turned to the smith.
"How much?"
"It'll cost ya. It'll be umm... ah to hell with de price! Just gave me 100 credits and let's be done with it."
"You're not serious! I never expected it to cost so little."
"Yes, ah am. And it ain't anything to do with ya wonderful personality either. It's just that, ah haven't done anything of this standard for a long time. Always kettles or pots and pans. Now this is what ah call real work! You wanna give me the 100 credits and leave?"
"Yeah, sure."
Querion stepped out of the shop, and transformed. His floating blades winked out of existence, transported into the sub-space vaults where they belonged. The smith did a good job indeed. The wolf sprinted back towards the bar.
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