Shuttle and Shuttle

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Peace and quiet are great things that can be difficult to come by. Lynx takes them when he can, though, and this time is no exception. Sure, could he zip off into the vast expanse? Probably...but that might see him returning to things that aren't quite what he'd want them to be. After all...bruisers are, at times, needed on the field, right?
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So, the sub-orbital regions are the next best thing. Not exactly /at/ the Station itself, Lynx is a bit beyond it, enjoying his own space as he hovers in his usual shuttle-mode self, long range scanners probing off into the depths of the unknown beyond Cybertron as he churns over his own thoughts in relative silence.

It won't be long before Sky Lynx might possibly pick up another shuttle coming his way from the planet's surface. It might seem rather familiar, too, he's seen it several times recently. It is a smaller brown and purple ship and while the Decepticon badge is conspicuously absent, there's likely no mistaking that it's Blast Off. The Combaticon seems to be heading on a roundabout course that will take him to the station, or somewhere close by.

Sky Lynx hmms... well, so much for solitude and silence. The shuttlebot slowly turns to better put his heat shielding towards Cybertron, and the approaching shuttle, as scanners do their usual run of probes and tests, weapon systems arming themselves, defensive systems coming online...

But no, he won't engage. Not here. There's something outright wrong about that. But caution seems to be in order.

"It's not often I encounter another in this particular spot. What are you here for? And fair warning, if it is to bother, pester, harass, or otherwise threaten anything in the region, then I /will/ deal with it."

Slag. Sky Lynx comes up on Blast Off's sensors, followed by his hail. The Combaticon's responds in kind, weapon systems coming online and targeting the larger shuttle... but he doesn't fire, either. His thrusters slow their forward propulsion as he changes course to begin coming at a wider arc that seeks to avoid direct confrontation. There's a long pause, then he replies, tone guarded- and at first just a bit snappy.

<< ...I was not aware that this was your space, or that I owed you an explanation for what I'm doing here. >> There's another pause as he seems to be studying the other shuttle - and observing that there has yet to be an attack. After a time, he adds, sounding more pleasant (for him at least): << ...However.... No. I am not here to threaten anything... or anyone. >>

Sky Lynx hmphs. <> He leaves it at that, slowly rolling again to turn his sensors back to their earlier scans. <>

<< I'll power down my weapon systems when *you* do. But I shall not leave myself open for attack. >> Blast Off still half-expects Sky Lynx to attack or try to arrest him, as most Autobots he's encountered lately have, and his tone carries some of that defensiveness. And yet... still no move on Sky Lynx's part to do either. Yet. The Combaticon keeps course for now. << ...Well, I *am* a space shuttle. I belong up here, even if... even if I haven't been exactly able to *do* it very often. >> Another pause as he runs scans and sweeps the area for possible Autobot squads coming in, or any other sign of trouble. Still none. After a moment, he continues. << But I suppose perhaps it is not. There aren't exactly a lot of us around anymore. >>

<> He is quiet for a moment, but then his laser systems go offline. <>

No, no squads. In fact, Lynx's own systems were simply scanning the regions unknown. Or, well, unknown to most. <>

OK, Blast Off was *not* expecting that. Surprised, he watches Sky Lynx actually power down his systems! OK, quick- ATTTACK!!!! ...Or maybe not. The Combaticon just kind of coasts there speechless for a moment. He runs another scan of the area... still nothing, neither friend nor foe.

Ok, now what? Something stirs in Blast Off's mind... a memory of how things are *supposed* to work, how shuttles are supposed to be civilized and, well, superior. His weapons systems do not offline- yet. However, curiosity lifts its head. << No. There were once many more shuttles and spacecraft in the sky.... now there seem fewer. Some changed alt modes or escaped Cybertron altogether during the Clampdown. I could not imagine being anything but a space shuttle, myself. And now that I can finally get back up here... well, not as often as I'd like, but... I come up when I can. I... imagine you feel the same way? >>

Sky Lynx hmphs. <> He remains quiet for a bit.

<< I could leave here. It is in me to do so. The things and places I've been to that might be far more stable than here are...tempting. I'm sure you are the same way.>> He pauses in thought. "But that wouldn't be right, now, would it."

This is something Blast Off can understand- and he joins in the harrumphing, falling easily into conversation with a fellow space shuttle. << So many who remained had difficulty finding enough fuel to really make it far enough. Not to mention that some expected the Clampdown wouldn't last as long as it did, and by the time they realized their folly, they were falling apart. I ...kept myself together, but it was not easy. Spare parts for shuttlecraft were not being made in any quantity, and we started having to scramble to replace anything. I went to extraordinary lengths the time or two I required new parts that were specific to my alt mode. >>

He sighs- the his engines grumble in anger. << The Senate betrayed me, betrayed all of us. Sent me on the path I am now. >> There's another stretch of time as he allows himself to settle a little to listen and respond. << ... I would leave. I would follow the stars, as I once did.... if I could. ...But I have responsibilities, and well, again fuel is an issue, obviously. >>

"Your parts were rare? How do you think I felt?" He chuckles at the remark, though. "The Senate had to keep those deemed as 'scouts' operational, but even then it was not easy. Their...politics were difficult to deal with."

He remains quiet for a bit and then simply starts to power on his engines. "I've a few things I need to do back in Iacon. I'll leave this space to you in the mean time." He pauses again. "Assuming you behave yourself, and power those weapons down."

Blast Off listens and thinks about this a moment. << ...True. You are... rather unique, if I may be so forward. I... can imagine upkeep is a vexing chore sometimes. >> The mention of the Senate is interesting ... though Blast Off decides not to get too far into dialogue about how much he loathed them. He associates the Autobots with them, after all and Sky Lynx may be a shuttle but he is one of the Autobots, too.

And speaking of that.... Hmm. << ....You would just leave me be? You're not going to try to arrest me? If you were Blurr you'd be spouting off about how I must be arrested or detroyed. I suppose I'm still a wanted *criminal*, after all... And it's not like we didn't just meet in battle not long ago... >>

Silence lingers for a moment. <> His engines thrum to life. <> He gives a soft chuckle. <>

This is definitely not what Blast Off had expected when he came up here. And definitely not the response he expected from an Autobot... but then again, he hasn't met many Autobot *shuttles* except for one. One who... seems as civilized as he once did back when Blast Off knew of him long ago, and seems as civilized as shuttles *ought* to be. << ....I see. ....No. I am simply... surprised is all. >> Another pause. << ...But then again, you *are* a shuttle. I... I am pleased to see that still means something. >>

<< And.. very well. Understood. I am perfectly content to extend the same... courtesy. I am a shuttle of my word, after all. >> Another hesitation, brief and fleeting and..... Blast Off powers down his weapons. It's crazy, and he's foolish to try to trust *anyone*, but if anyone remains he could attempt even a smidgen of trust with- it's a fellow shuttle. He watches Sky Lynx closely, though.

As weapons go offline, there's that momentary pause when things could go terribly awry. The same, no doubt, that Lynx had felt when he powered his at the start of the encounter. Still, he is one to follow through on his own word as well, and not long after engines roar to full power, and the shuttle descends back down towards Iacon without another word offered in the conversation.

Blast Off watches him go.... and he's not sure he'd know what to say at that point even if the other shuttle had stuck around. But somehow things seem a little more *right* in the universe than they did before as he fires up his thrusters and continues on his way, glad to be alone... and glad to be just a little *civilized* again.