Moving Up in the World

Shockwave arrives from the Sky Above Wastelands.

MedusaSaur is poised at her usual guard post. She looks up at a motion in the sky overhead.

Shockwave comes fly down from the skys above. His arms are stretched out above his head, and he then levels out to land at Whiplash's usual guard post. He lands behind her, and he seems nervous to some extent..Why he is is not really known.

MedusaSaur smiles in greeting, though immediately detects the change in Shockwave's usual manner, and her expression turns more serious again. "Hey there. Heard you were back. Did everything go okay?"

MedusaSaur stands and regards Shockwave, the undulation of her tentacles picking up a bit of speed.

Shockwave's optic flashes, and he nods his head, "My mission went as planned." He sits himself down on the ground, and he looks right into your optics, "I take it you have heard...of...the other rumor.."

MedusaSaur looks puzzled. "Other rumor? We're going to nuke the daylights out of Crystal City? Thought that was common knowledge." Her tone of voice indicates that she's not particularly displeased about it, either.

MedusaSaur slips down off her guard post in one smooth motion to stand near Shockwave on the ground. "Something else is up, isn't there? What happened?"

Shockwave says, "The one about you taking Fortress' place until he returns..That place being my personal aid and second in command.." His optic flickers, and he looks at Whiplash almost expecting her to be displeased with this, "I selected you because I trust you a lot.."

The steady undulations of Whiplash's tentacles freeze in place as her optics just go blank for a moment. Slowly she turns and looks behind her as though checking to see if anyone else is around whom Shockwave might be talking to ... then she turns to face him again. After an additional long moment she finds her voice. "Did you say ... second-in-command?"

Shockwave nods his head slowly..very slowly. His optic flashes, and he looks at you. His optic dims slightly almost worried if this was a good choice, "I need the help right now. All of my officers are either MIA or dead.."

Very slowly some motion comes back into Whiplash's tentacles. "Second-in-command," she repeats. "Of Darkmount? Of all of them? Me??"

Shockwave's optic flickers, and he backs off for a second. He nods his head, "Yes. I remember that time you lead that training session. You remember when Vivisector got that orange dye on your armor..Well other than the fact I really trust you..I thought you did very well there."

MedusaSaur unexpectedly bursts out laughing. "Shockwave, that training session was a disaster! Everyone running every-which-way -- I still think about it sometimes when I want a good laugh. I know your command staff has been hard to come by lately, but -- you think I'm qualified to help you run things?" She chuckles. "Okay, maybe I snap at people now and again so they think I've got some kind of rank, but -- you and I both know better."

MedusaSaur notes Shockwave's expression, though, and says more gently, "Look, if you need the help temporarily, I'll see what I can do. Can't just turn down the request, can I? But I'm just saying that I'd have a hell of a long way to go before I'm qualified for a job like that. I just picture myself blundering through it. Wouldn't that be worse?"

Shockwave's optic flickers, and he cocks his head to the side. He pushes himself up onto a boulder. He looks to the ground, and then back into your optics, "I think that is because they believe you are a good leader. I think you would do well in this position." He shakes his head slowly, "It will be an experience for you to learn and grow from. I do not see you blundering through it either..This is just temporary for the most part."

MedusaSaur leaps up lightly onto the boulder beside Shockwave. She still seems baffled and amused by the whole notion. "But, um ... who would guard the base?"

Shockwave's optic flickers, and he looks over towards Darkmount. His optic shimmers twice, "Darkmount is always guarded no matter where you happen to go. We all look out for another no?"

MedusaSaur's tentacles coil faster with a trace of aggitation. "You'd be surprised at what vermin I sometimes pick off out here." She casts a reflexive look around, then looks back to Shockwave. "If you really think I'd do more good helping you out directly...? Temporary, right? Just until someone qualified comes back on the scene?"

Shockwave's optic flickers, and he notices the aggitation. He backs off slowly from his companion worried. He almost falls back, and he softly intones, "I think by being more direct in your help it will be a big help.." He pushes himself up still abit nervous with this situation, "This is only temporary until someone else shows."

MedusaSaur dims her optics for a moment as though sorting out conflicting emotions, then brightens them again with a look of steady determination. "You know there's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you, Shock. And if you feel like you need me to step into this position and try to make the best of it, than I'll do my best for you. I don't feel up to it. But I'll learn. Just point me in the right direction."

MedusaSaur transforms into Whiplash.

Whiplash transforms, curling her tentacles around herself lightly and meeting Shockwave's gaze steadily.

Shockwave looks back down to the ground, and he softly intones, "I can tell you seem to be upset with what you must do. I can help you with this..Just try to remember what I have done, and observe my actions." His optic dims still at unease with the chances of upsetting her, "I picked you out of many because the position you have is one earned strongly on trust..That is something I shall always do is trust you."

Whiplash says, "Well, sometimes we gotta do things that don't quite sit right with us, for the sake of the team. Things that we haven't been trained in, things that are hard for us. But only a coward would back away without giving it their best shot." She smiles a bit, a trace of mischief glittering in her optics almost as a reassurance that she'll deal with the situation. "And anyone who'd call me a coward, had better hope I never catch 'em in dark alley.""

Shockwave's optic glows, and he looks up at you. He nods his head sharply, "That is why Megatron picked me to follow in his foot steps. He knew I would never back down like a coward at the chance of something new and hard. I will warn you that this line of work is always a challenge..You might learn that you are best suited for it than you think."

Whiplash says, "Well, I don't know about that ... but like I said, I'll give it my best shot." She glances up toward the dark silhouette of Darkmount, and adds with a grin, "Maybe you'd best show me around the command center so I at least know where stuff is.""

Shockwave stands up, and he nods his head sharply, "Then let me show you about your new surroundings. You will grow used to working inside."

Whiplash's optics darken again almost imperceptibly for the briefest of moments, but she determinedly pushes the reaction aside and activates her hover-jets, rising up above the wasteland and waiting for Shockwave to join her.

Shockwave leaps up into the air following behind you still uneased about your action with this. He gives himself another boost of energy, and he flys ahead of you to Darkmount.

Historian's Note: fortunately this emergency measure didn't last long. Someone with more experience stepped in to take over, allowing Whiplash to get back to her real job.