Mountains of Magnus - Treacherous Peaks

[Foxfire]

Waiting? There was no rest once a hunt began.

The assassin moved with cat-like reflexes and unnatural speed as Kol began to react to her attack. She heard his movements, pinpointing his location within the darkness through the echoes. Darkfire passed her own knife as it was hurled into darkness. The interloper was sliding down his weapon, a scythe. It struck a cord with her memory in some distant recess.

The assassin's optics narrowed. She couldn't kill this one. Not immediately. Her curiosity would be satisfied. She dropped down silently and slid underneath the intruder as he descended. Coming to her feet once more, the assasin's arm transformed in to the Null Ray, which she aimed directly at the back of the interloper's cranium. At point-blank range, she would not miss. And at this range, it would not fail to kill. There was still the possibility of a counter attack, but the assassin was prepared. Her bladed arm was held as a guard in front of her.

The assassin spoke in a dark tones, with an undercurrent of a deep and aching pain.

"Who are you?"

[Laser]

A deep sense of shame engulfed Kol as he felt the tip of the Null Ray brush against the back of his crown. He hadn't failed, not yet, but it wasn't looking good. Was this his end? Maybe his destiny was to die like the others, forgotten, mangled. But what was this? The killer asked who he was....perhaps it would prolong his death. He answered simply.

"I am Kol."

[Foxfire]

Darkfire's optics widened. The point of the null ray fell away and the assassin let out a deep sigh. She knew that she recognized the interloper. She respected the drone's abilities as an assassin. Darkfire stepped back slightly, partially in the light. Great degrees of pain were obvious on her faceplate.

"Kol...I didn't think...Why are you here?"

[Laser]

Kol felt deep pain and anxiety wafting off of every movement. Whatever was the matter? Perhaps he had disappointed his adversary. If that was so, then...that sucked.

Then his opponent stepped into the light.

WHAT!!!?? What was she doing here? She....she had killed those people...and she was going to kill him, too. Kol's face was stricken with shock. How does one...deal with this?

"Mistress Darkfire? I-I was running a few errands when I saw the--" No. He would not say. He would simply not say. He noticed her delicacy of her face was slightly tainted with internal conflict. He spoke softly. "Are...are you alright Mistress?"

[Foxfire]

The malice and murderous intent was swiftly dying away in the assassin. She retracted her weapons and moved a hand to her face, so she wouldn't have to bear the incredulous stares of Kol. She hadn't wanted to want anyone that she knew. Why was he here? She came here to get away from everyone and anything. Those that did come were...dealt with. When Kol began to answer her, she grimaced as he began to mention the slaughter.

"Mistress Darkfire? I-I was running a few errands when I saw the--

It was only a faint blur in her mind. Like some sort of nightmare that the assassin had no control over. The pain...the anguish...boiled over. She did not regret what she had done. In all honesty, she felt little at all other than the most intense pain.

Are...are you alright Mistress?"

Darkfire considered lying. It was the first impulse she felt compelled to do. The though sickened her. Lies were what had brought her here in the first place. So many other things that she could've done to stop this...so many regrets. Darkfire dropped her hand from her face and looked at Kol sadly.

"No...not at all...My...my sister..."

[Laser]

Kol read Darkfire's body language. She was hurt, confused, and angry. Clearly unstable. She had slaughtered an entire caravan and obviously hadn't thought much on it...perhaps it was a direct product of her current state. If he was going to get her out safely, and avoid being killed himself, he was going to have to be patient and understanding.

Kol retracted all weapons and moved out of his fighting stance. He kept eye contact as well as he could (she seemed to avoid his gaze), but he tried not to overpower it. He did not want her to feel challenged or threatened. He calmly addressed her, using his smooth, relaxing tone.

"Easy, mistress. You are stressed. Let your tensions flow from your systems. Close your optics and relax. Do not think. Feel........I cannot speak for your sister's safety, but I know you cannot protect her if you are not safe yourself." He looked around. He was a little too blunt perhaps. He wanted to put her in control, so she would feel safer. "This is not a safe environment, Mistress. I do not know you, so I do not know what you think is such an environment. But I have a small ship outside. Come with me, and take me to wherever you feel is safe....then, and only then, can we face this obstacle together."

He folded his hands behind his back and waited patiently for her answer. Being in a dark cave with an assassin is one thing. Being in a dark cave with an assassin called Darkfire was something else entirely.

[Foxfire]

Darkfire's expression darkened somewhat as Kol spoke. Immediately, the hostility and malice returned if only a fraction of what it had been before. She grew more and more tense as Kol continued to speak, feeling the familiar calm coming over her. The killing calm. All other emotions drained away other than that of murderous intent. Completely focused on one purpose and one alone. To kill as efficiently as possible. The change in the atmosphere was palpable. The air grew heavy and light seemed to dim to its palest hue as those violet optics glittered dangerously.

"I cannot speak for your sister's safety, but I know you cannot protect her if you are not safe yourself."

The statement's bluntness made Darkfire blink, breaking the calm that had overtaken her, making the atmosphere brighten once more. She was not safe to be around now. Examining Kol more carefully now, his body language showed an apparent calm, but if she had been him in this situation, those would be the exact measures she'd have taken. The drone never ceased to impress her.

When the drone suggested going elsewhere, Darkfire scowled. She wished to be alone. Those that had intruded had paid the price for their ignorance. Somewhere...safe. The first place that came to mind was her master's retreat, but Darkfire did not wish to return. To face her master. Darkfire began to feel a small flicker of remorse for the sparks that she had so effortlessly extinguished. She felt remorse, not because they were offline, but because of the way they had died. Such torture had a place and purpose. That had been senseless. She admonished herself for wasting time and energy. Not that she had any particular purpose at the moment.

Deciding, Darkfire looked over to Kol, folding her arms across her chest plate.

"Very well. I will go with you."

[Laser]

Kol was relieved to hear her answer. Perhaps he'd live another day. He gestured politely towards the exit, but he took the lead. He never moved too far ahead, and kept the same pace. No sudden movements. He stayed within her view, and didn't give her any reason to mistrust him. It is unwise to provoke a shark while underwater, in other words.

Upon approaching the entrance, Kol's gaze instantly fell upon the dead at his feet, sprawled about in the state of agony Darkfire had left them. No. He didn't need this. More confusion...it might add to the anguish. On the other hand, it might not. But he wasn't going to let her see him dwell over it. It was time to improvise.

"Ah, there she is. Nightrunner. Great ship. Flies perfectly. You're a well-versed pilot aren't you? Many of the Decepticons are....I reviewed some of their background profiles. Unfortunately, I'm not a very good pilot. Never was. Hope to get better at it someday."

He tripped over the shredded body of one of the murdered. A bit of morbid humor and embarrassment nearly provoked him into saying "who put that there?", but instead, he stood up and sighed before opening the ramp on the small ship. But his lead ended here. He did not enter first. That would be poor manners, anyone would agree. "After you, mistress."

[Foxfire]

Darkfire followed Kol outside, continuing to read his body language. She was not so foolish as to think that this could not be a trap of some sort. She glanced out at the carnage as they approached the entrance. The sight evoked no response from Darkfire other than slight disappointment, although she was surprised to find the hint of an amused smile play on her face when Kol tripped over and fell. She instantly wiped off any expression.

Kol had made some attempts at small talk, leaving Darkfire open to a response or not. She was skilled in piloting, having had the experience of many years on her side.

"It takes practice. You'll get there with enough time. Helps that I have a flying alternate form."

Darkfire stopped before the ship and examined the vessel approvingly. She needed a ship of her own one of these days. Something of a base of operations for her when she was away from the Decepticons Headquarters. She saw that Kol had stopped before the lowered ramp, waiting for her to enter. She was wary, but took care not to show it. She nodded to Kol as she passed and surveyed the inside of the ship with curious optics.

[Laser]

The interior of the Nightrunner was subtle but exquisite. Comfortable chairs were found at each station, complete with full body braces for rough situations. There were a few chambers about the halls, one for medical reasons. The floors were galvanized for grip, and the temperature was warm and relaxing. The lighting was slightly dimmed, and gave more emphasis to the several holographic projections lining the walls. A small elevator in the back of the ship led to the cargo bay, which contained the safe room, a large sealed chamber for smuggling goods. Next to the elevator was a war room, with tinted windows. Kol escorted Darkfire to the Pilot's chair, then sat down in the copilot's. He began switching a few things on, and the roar of the engines could be heard outside the hull.

"Ready when you are, mistress."