EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS

Central Courtyard:Air Raid, Slag, Shadow
Candice emerges from the Personell Buliding.

Slag looks at Air Raid squarely, "Pretend? " he sounds disgusted, "Why?"

Air Raid stares up at Slag, unblinking. He crosses his arms, noting at this 
range that his head reaches Slag's torso. But he doesn't care. "I didn't say 
anything about pretending."

Candice glances around somewhat before apporaching the small gathering 
up ahead.
Slag lashes his hand out to grab the top of Air Raid's head, he misses 
and hits him instead.

Air Raid ducks under Slag's toss, and dances away, light on his feet. 
"Outside. Let's go."

Slag looks at Air Raid, "You first. "

Air Raid backs toward the gates, feet still light and ready to dash one 
way or another. "C'mon then."

Shadow turns as he hears the comotion, "Allright, what's going on here?"

Air Raid pauses, then says to Slag, "You know...there *is* a Decepticon 
here."

Slag walks behind Air Raid.
Slag stops and looks...
Candice turns around to see that the Decepticon is 
*still* in the city. She groans inaudibly.

Air Raid stares in unison with the Dinobot. "Why's he here? I thought 
you would have creamed him by now."

Slag looks at Shadow, "He hiding. Didn't see him before."

Air Raid suggests, "Let's deal with him, then spar."

Candice moves closer to the others.

Shadow says, "It's simple, really, Prime said that I can stay here, 
as long as I dont leave the courtyard."

Air Raid takes a step toward the Decepticon. "It's not alright. Really.
"Slag looks around slowly, then looks at Air Raid, "You see Optimus 
Prime here?"

Shadow's cloak dances with colors, and he fades into his surroundings.
Shadow suddenly disappears from view!

Air Raid shrugs and looks around. "I see nothing."

A soothing baritone voice says, "Do you see me here?"

Slag transforms into Triceratops mode.
Slag says, "Don't have to see to burn!"

Air Raid turns a glance toward Slag. "You know...flamethrowers are in order 
here."
Air Raid grins, optics glittering hotly.

Slag watches the area carefully for any sign of movement.

Air Raid snorts. "The Autobots won't even keep security around their own 
base. This is just..." he smirks wryly, "...prime."

Candice mentally wonders if Air Raid got that from the Beast Wars episodes 
she loaned to Slingshot once. She mutters something about her "wisdom" of 
not staying inside.

Air Raid suggests, "Well, there's no noise. I bet he's where he started. I'd 
say just start flamin' the place, and Candice, take refuge."

The voice says from behind AR's head, "I wouldn't try that.." and the 
sound of a stunner powering up can be heard.

Slag spins and lets loose with flames in the direction of the voice.

Candice shakily nods. "Um...yeah. Don't wanna be barbecued." She dodges 
behind a piece of abandoned equipment nearby.

Air Raid immediately lashes out toward the sound.
Air Raid connects with a backhand, and yanks himself backward just in time 
not to get singed.
Air Raid shakes his hand, which seems to have been crisped just a little.
Slag sends a jet of flames towards the voice
A blue lance of light spears through where AR was, and spaks into the ground, harmlessly.

Air Raid grins slightly toward the last position. "Catch ya upside the head? 
Heh. I'm not slow like these Autobots...you better watch yourself."

Candice pokes her head out from her "refuge" to watch a little.

Air Raid keeps his feet squared under himself, and he listens, ready to 
dart in any direction.

Candice mumbles something inaudible...wondering about the Bots' collective 
insight to allow the Con into the city in the first place.

Slag stomps around, trying to flush out Shadow, stepping very close to where 
Candice is hiding.

A soothing baritone voice says, "Carefull, Slag, Candice is back there!"
Candice groans a little and backs away as soon as she regains her balance 
from the Dino's stride.

First Aid's optics blink as he awakens from his daydream and looks around to 
take in the situation.
Slag snaps another sheet of flames towards the voice again
Air Raid hears the center of the noise, and snaps off a shot with his torque 
gun.
Another stun bolt lances out of the air, missing Slag by mere inches.

Air Raid hits something in midair, seemingly by sheer luck. He grins as he 
hears metal twisting, but still can't see. "That should slow 'im down."

First Aid summons his decrystalizer cannon from subspace and levels it at AR. "Now just what the heck do you think yer doin???"

Candice slaps her hand to her forehead, seeing First Aid.
Candice activates her radio..You send, 'Oh...so you won't shoot a 
Decepticon but you'll shoot one of your 
allies?' to First Aid.

Air Raid doesn't even see First Aid, and is busy trying to locate the 
Decepticon.

Radio message from First Aid, 'We are under standing orders to 
allow Shadow in the courtyard of the base. If you have a problem with 
that, go talk to Prime.'

You send, 'I did. And when I last talked with him he said Shadow 
shouldn't even be here.' to First Aid.

Radio message from First Aid, 'And when was this?'.

You send, 'A few days ago. But my questions still stands. You level 
a gun at an ally while ignoring a Con?' to First Aid.

Radio message from First Aid, 'First of all, I dont give two spits 
about AR, I have no love for him since the Aeirals left. Second of 
all, untill now, I was under the impression that the order stood and 
shadow was allowed in the courtyard.'.

Shadow appears, his cloak dancing with colors, finally settling on its 
normal black.
Shadow suddenly appears from out of the shadows!
Shadow screams, and crumples to the floor.

You send, 'The Aerials left because of the way you Autobots treated them. 
And I don't know anything about no orders. All I know if there's a Con 
here.' to First Aid.

Air Raid smirks and doesn't lower his weapon. "Well that got 'im. One for 
me, Slag, and none for you. Well, I got two actually, if you count that 
backhand."

Shadow shakily gets to his feet.

You send, 'And that you've got a gun leveled at an ally...' to First Aid.

Air Raid says to Slag, "So. Should we drag him out, boot him out, deposit 
him somewhere? This one's up to you, since I took care of the first part."

Slag transforms into Robot mode.

Shadow's form begins to dance with lightning, and his voice turns cold, 
"I will not leave here."

Slag says, "You want it to move it. You move it."

Air Raid seems pleased. "Oh good. He wants to do it the hard way. 
And whaddya sayin', you afraid of him?"

Shadow's eyes burn an icy blue, as he glares at AR.

Slag says, "No. Saying it not fun if he already on ground."

Air Raid nods. "True. Come on, then, little con. I'd hate to actually break 
into combat mode to deal with you."

First Aid mutters something under his breath, gives out an audible sigh, and 
turns his ccannon on Shadow. "After carefull consideration, I have 
decided that you probably should leave...now."

Slag looks at First Aid, stunned.

Shadow remains steadfast, and unmoving, "I will not leave here. I have 
pledged my honor to protect my friends here, and so I shall."

First Aid says, "If you havent noticed, you are a Con, and you have no 
friends here!"

Air Raid raises an optic ridge, but keeps an optic on the Decepticon. He 
snorts at Shadow. "Some honor all of you have. I see what's important to 
the Autobots, but I'm gonna do them a favor and remove you before you kill 
any of them."

Shadow turns to First Aid, "Was a Con.. I hold that alligence no longer."

Candice stills remains behind the equipment. She places her radio on 
standby...hoping she doen't have to add another radio for Raid to watch 
his back.

Slag snorts, "You change side once. What stop you from doing again?"

<Royal> Candice says, "Slag has a point I long maintained.  :-)"
<Royal> Air Raid cheers for both of you. :-)

Shadow says, "Because I saw that what the Decepticons were doing was wrong.. 
they are a menace, and must be stopped."

Air Raid seems to disagree, and remains unmoved. "Why argue with him, Slag? 
He tried to sneak in on me and Slingshot while we were both unconscious...
good thing I woke up for that. Oh, and the Autobots let him in. That was 
great."

Slag snorts, "Autobots meance too.  So what?"

Shadow snaps at Air Raid, "After an assasination attempt on your life, you 
would be equally paranoid Air Raid."

Air Raid snaps back, "Look, pal, I'm in a REALLY rotten mood today, so don't 
push my buttons. And you have NO IDEA what kind of things I've been through."

First Aid sighs again. "I'm tired of hearing this load of malarky. Are you 
going to leave now, quietly, or are we gonna have to throw you out???

Slag looks at Air Raid, "You just lucky I not there. You not wake up."
Candice quietly dohs.

Air Raid retorts to Slag, "And you can bite my aft, you slagpile."

Shadow turns his back on the entire group, "Destroy me if you must, but I am 
not leaving."

Slag turns on Air Raid, raising his voice over AR's, "If I bit you, then 
more than aft will be ruined!"

Air Raid shouts back, not looking at the Decpticon now, "WELL PRIMUS KNOWS 
YOUR MOUTH IS BIG ENOUGH!"

First Aid tries to get between AR and Slag before they start in on each 
other.
Candice shakes her head at the shear lunacy.
Air Raid gets pushed back, his frame being so light, but he continues 
to glare at Slag.

First Aid runs over to the two of them and stands inbetween them. He 
looks at AR. "You cool your jets!! Hear me??" He then looks at Slag. 
"You cut the crap also, we have bigger fish to fry!"

Slag looms over First Aid, glaring at Air Raid, "Cool jets? There *nothing* 
cool about jets! They all dumb and useless!"

Air Raid snorts at the pun, but puts in angrily, "He's a SMALL fish, and 
I AM NOT DUMB!"

First Aid screams "BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!!!!!!"

Candice winces at the loud yelling and turns down her audio reception in the 
space suit.

Air Raid pauses to give First Aid a flat look, and says, "Fine. You 
deal with the little fish." He looks back up at Slag, "You wanna take 
this outside?"

Slag looks at First Aid, "You about to become Aerialbot."
Slag grabs First Aid and tosses him into the air

Shadow turns and shouts, "ENOUGH!"

First Aid flies thru the air and lands against a wall.
First Aid's body crunches against the wall and slides down to the floor.

Candice watches...eyes wide. "Oh, joy."

Air Raid can't help it. He busts up laughing at the sight of an airborne 
Protectobot.

Shadow summons a large stun rifle, "Leave, both of you!"

Air Raid stops laughing long enough to trot over and check on First Aid. 
"I owe Hot Spot enough to do this," he mumbles, "You ok?"

First Aid mumbles something in a dazed kinda way. "Yea, man...I'll 
be juuuust fine..."

Shadow shouts, "I will not have your petty quarrel endanger the life of 
Candice...who is here out of her own free will."

Air Raid reaches down and hauls First Aid into a sitting position. "No...
First Aid...look at me. You ok?"
Air Raid looks over to Shadow, and says, "Candice is a woman, not a child, 
and she can take care of herself. So shut up."

<Royal> Candice patpats Raid and thank yous for noticing ICly.  :-)
<Royal> Air Raid always has noticed.  :-)  If you notice, I was never one to 
babysit you.

Slag looks at Shadow. "Shoot. Please.".

Shadow says, "Fight if you must, but _outside_! slag, First Aid could have 
easily landed on Candice, and crushed her.. how would you explain that to 
Optimus?"

Candice presses her lips into a line. "Leave me out of this, Shadow," she 
calls out.

Slag puts his fists on his hips, "Shoot. But it be last thing you do."

First Aid tries to focus on AR's face. "I never knew walls were that hard..."

Air Raid snaps over his shoulder, "SLAG! Would you please take care of that 
fish? Darn, I can't think with his yammering!"

You hear Air Raid mutter to First Aid: "should...try...fists...you...vision. 
Now...is hard...."

Air Raid holds up two fingers.

Slag glances at Air Raid, "You make good thing to throw. Maybe that shut him 
up."

First Aid says, "Two, if the would stop moving..."

Air Raid looks around to Slag, and says, "You'd have to catch me first, you 
slaggin' exhaust licker."Air Raid nods back to First Aid, and says, "Good. 
Now can you get up?" He still seems angry, but holds it back long enough 
to make sure First Aid isn't toast.

First Aid slowly starts t get up, bracing himself on the wall Candice 
continues watching...not able to really do much else except stay where 
she is.

Shadow lowers his voice to normal, but is obviously fuming, "Take it outside 
you two."

Slag turns and stomps over to Air Raid, "What you say?"

Air Raid dances away from First Aid, and says, mid-motion, "You heard what I 
said! So let's take our fish and go finish business."

First Aid pushes himself up off the ground.

Slag puts a foot on First Aid's chest, not to damage, just hold in place, 
"Air Raid...you not clear enough. Repeat!"

Air Raid stops and puts his hands on his hips. "Oh, that's just great, Slag. 
Come here and take a stab at me. Just coz you know you can't catch me is no 
reason to drag some Autobot into it. You sayin' you need help to fight me?"

Candice sighs. "Maybe I shoulda stayed inside and finished reading that 
last chapter after all...."

Slag quivers with rage, "Don't need help! Just need you to talk so you 
understandable!! You Aerialbots so stupid, no one understand what you say!"

Air Raid shouts back, "What do you want to talk about then?? I thought we 
were gonna spar and then this FISH spoke up!"

Slag jabs a finger at Air Raid, "You hiding behind Con now? You acting 
*just* *like* *Autobot*."

Candice uh, ohs...Shadow seems to be trying to control his temper, as his 
eyes burn a reddish-purple.

Air Raid snarls, "That is *IT*. Let's step outside, or are you so chicken
you have to hide behind a PACIFIST?"

Candice mutters, "That did it."

Slag steps over First Aid to loom over Air Raid, "You first"
Slag grabs Air Raid, but can't quite get a good enough grip to heave 
him over the wall.

Air Raid whirls to the side and dances back, but not before scraping his arm 
pretty badly, getting away from Slag. "See?"

Hot Rod walks in and over to the group, "What is going on?"

Slag walks past Air Raid, bumping him, on his way out.
Slag heads through the gates leading out of Iacon.

Air Raid snaps at Hot Rod, "Have fun with your pet." He storms after Slag.
Air Raid heads through the gates leading out of Iacon.

Hot Rod says, "What was that about?"

You send, 'Um...Neither of thenm like the fact a Con's still allowed here. 
And...um...they went off to spare methinks.' to Hot Rod.

Radio message from Hot Rod, 'Thank you.'.

Shadow excuses himself, and he goes over, behind the Ark II to scream in 
aggrivation.

First Aid starts to stumble his way to the Med Bay. "I need to lie down."

Hot Rod says, "I better go make sure they don't kill each other."

First Aid slowly walks towards the Science building
First Aid has left.Hot Rod heads through the gates leading out of Iacon.
Gates of Iacon

Hot Rod walks out and looks around for any fights.

-OOC- Slag says, "You see the aftermath of one :-)"
-OOC- Hot Rod says, "It's over already?"
-OOC- Air Raid says, "We skipped it. :)"

Air Raid lays on the ground, all his white parts now char black. As 
Slag walks away, he glowers at his back, but seems to feel better.
Slag limps slightly, with a twisted knee.

Hot Rod says, "Now look what mindless fighting does to you."

Air Raid smirks at the knee, and thanks Vector Sigma for such an aft-kicking 
gun.

Slag turns and looks at Hot Rod, "Look what mindless talking get you. Con in 
the base."

Hot Rod says, "I know that, Stronghold is in there too."
Air Raid smirks. "I agree wit'...ouch...him there."

Candice shrugs as she emerges from the city. "Why do you think I'm out here."

Slag looks at Candice, "Rust infection never far from metal. That why."

Hot Rod says, "You two need to go to the Repair Bay."

Slag looks at Air Raid, "He fine. I'm fine. Shut up or you need to go there."

Hot Rod says, "No need to get mad."

Air Raid starts to get up, and some of his armor flakes away, having been 
charred to a crisp. He's blacker than Shadow now. "We're FINE."

Hot Rod frowns at Air Raid, "You need some medical help before your armor 
flakes all of the way off."

Air Raid shrugs as another flake falls off. "No I don't."Air Raid starts 
to walk toward no where in particular, or so it seems.

Hot Rod says, "Where are you going?"

You say, "Um...Cya, Raid."

Air Raid limps toward his destination, but doesn't answer. Instead he says, 
"I'll be...ugh...back for th'con later."

Hot Rod says, "Some people..."

Air Raid shrugs and disappears into a shimmering wall. He's suddenly...not 
there.

Candice hits Rod's leg. "As if you have a right to talk.'