Mountains of Magnus - Treacherous Peaks

[Foxfire]

"Right."

Darkfire slid into the pilot's seat, and gripped the controls experimentally. She'd flown several ships of this classification before. It would do. She made the ship push off from the ground and sent it soaring through the peaks. She retracted the landing gear and checked if the ship had any stealth capabilities. It didn't seem so, though it could. She wasn't familiar with this particular ship though she'd flown others of its kind.

Darkfire effortlessly navigated the treacherous peaks and sheer cliffs of the Mountains of Magnus. Although once, she almost clipped one of the wings on a cliff. Ship pulled a little to the right. That was alright though. Barrel rolling to avoid a ridge, Darkfire guided the ship into a massive cavern. Her optics glanced to the cavern ceiling occasionally. Seeming out of nowhere, stalagmites and stalactites appeared from the darkness. Darkfire smirked.

"Hang on, Kol. This is going to be interesting."

Darkfire seemingly effortlessly traversed the deadly maze of jutting metal. The remains of other ships could sometimes be seen stuck on the cave floor or impaled by the spires of metal. The controls seemed to dance in the assassin's hands. Up ahead, a narrow slit between two impaled ships blocked the way. Darkfire smirked and flew toward it, undaunted. At the last possible moment, she turned the ship sideways and flew through the narrow pass.

Darkfire brought the side right-side up once more and pulled back on the controls, flying through a hole on the cavern's ceiling. They entered into a beautiful crystalline cavern. The walls glowed a radiant blue. At the top of the cavern, a small hole let light filter in and down. A small cottage sat a bit off to one side. Darkfire made the ship hover and set out the landing gear once more. The ship landed delicately, and Darkfire lowered the ramp. The assassin stood and glanced at Kol, considering. He knew of this location now. It would have to be seen if he could be trusted with the information. Otherwise...

Well, it didn't matter right now. Darkfire turned and exited the ship. From where she stood at the base of the ramp, she could make out the form of her master making his way toward them. She looked back to Kol.

"We're here. C'mon out. I'm sure he'll want to meet you."

[Laser]

And they were off, it seemed. Darkfire was a natural, handling the controls like child's play. The ship felt weightless, eternal. He was sure she would be interested in learning about the rest of the ship some other time. Perhaps he'd show her the stealth mechanisms....

He noticed her heading towards the hazardous mountain tops instead of away from them. Had he not asked her to take him to a safe place? But he said nothing. He saw her dangerous smile, and how experienced she was. He would have to trust her now. The dark of the cavern loomed about the hull like a bad omen. He sensed the formations of rock sticking out abruptly from the ridge, but his reaction would have been too slow.

Darkfire effortlessly guided the ship through the debris of rock, dangerous protrusions, and shipwrecks. The cavern was getting larger, but harder to maneuver through. Ahead, a small opening could be seen, but he was sure they would die. He began to get up and write his will, but Darkfire passed through it with ease and expertise. They landed outside a small house.

Kol stepped out of the ship behind Darkfire. This was truly a mysterious place. The ground was softer than usual, and the atmosphere tasted fresh and untainted. The light from the opening provided a beautiful skylight that spiraled upon the building. It was amazing. His companion spoke of someone who may want to meet him.

"Of course, let us go."

[Foxfire]

Darkfire nodded and walked across the cavern to meet her master once more. The sight of him always brought some form of peace into her mind. She had never met someone so noble or wise in her entire experience. His history had always been and would always be an enigma to her however. He never spoke of his life before coming to the Mountains of Magnus. She could only wonder at what the ancient Cybertronian had been like before. She glanced at Kol with a sidelong glance, still doubtful of his trustworthiness.

Darkfire stopped within a respectable distance from her master and bowed to him, showing her respect. Her master returned the gesture with the same elegance that permeated all of his movements. His optics fell on Darkfire, noting the stains of dried energon.

"I have returned, master."

"I was afraid that our previous meeting was the last that I would ever see of you, little one. I am most glad to see that you have left the path of destruction."

The master's warm and welcoming optics moved over to Kol as the drone approached. He bowed in the same respectful manner that he had to Darkfire.

"And welcome to my humble abode, young one. Were you the one that helped Darkfire in her time of need?"

Darkfire's optics narrowed slightly with irritation. Time of need? Hearing her master speak about her to another set her on edge. He knew it did too. Why in Primus' name did he always try to annoy her?! She couldn't get angry at him either because when she confronted him, he acted innocent. The sneaky...

A smile worked its way onto Darkfire's faceplate.

[Laser]

Kol watched the exchange of respect Darkfire and the elder performed. So he wasn't the only one who addressed others as "master" or "mistress"......no, maybe he was. What was the elder doing all the way out here? He was obviously someone important to her, someone who cared about her. He bowed as they did.

"Yes, old master. I am Kol. I do not know if I have helped the mistress, I simply wanted to assist her in taking the steps towards helping herself."

[Foxfire]

"And indeed you have, friend. But look at us standing here. Please, come into my home and help yourself to some energon. I am never for want of energon here. The blue crystals that you see around you are raw energon. This is one of our planets last great reserves. Even I do not know how much lies within these caverns, but I guard it from those who would seek to abuse it."

The master gestured to his small little cottage, and waiting patiently for his guest to proceed, so that they might walk side by side. The show of warmth and hospitality was almost too much for the assassin to stomach. Growling, Darkfire left Kol's side and wandered over to a far removed corner of the cavern where some energon crystals jutted up from the cavern floor. Her master could take care of himself should Kol prove troublesome.

With a sigh, the master watched his former pupil stalk off to her little retreat. He looked over to Kol apologetically.

"I am afraid that she has always been like that. Forgive her. How did you come to meet my former student?"

[Laser]

"Certainly. I can think of a very big organization that would love to find a place like this."

It was marvelous, this place. Huge armies could power themselves for ages with this kind of energon. He liked this old-timer as well.Such kindness and hospitality. Darkfire was nothing like him, it seemed. Yet obviously, he and she had interesting history. He walked with the old cybertronian, responding to his gesture towards the cottage.

"I met the Mistress after I joined the Decepticons. We both serve."

[Foxfire]

The master walked alongside Kol, smiling at him warmly while listening to his tale with great interest. It was true that many a faction or other would have loved to expose this place and its resources. He only feared that this young one would neglect to see what his former pupil neglected to see until late in her training. The natural beauty of this cavern was a treasure in itself. Even within the golden age of Cybertron, the Council of the Primes would have loved to exploit this cavern.

"Indeed. Many would, but they fail to see that this cavern is a treasure in itself for its natural beauty as well as sheer energy. I fear that if anyone from those factions discovered such a place, its power would be abused for selfish purposes. A reserve like this should be used for the benefit of all Cybertronians. And so, I guard it, waiting for such a time."

The two reached the door of the cottage. It opened for them to reveal a charming interior. It was rather spartan in terms of furniture and comforts, but had a quality of coziness to it, making anyone feel instantly at home.

"The Decepticons? That is surprising. Darkfire is so fiercely independent from any outside authority. I did have to work rather hard to earn her trust. But, please, sit."

The master motioned to a chair by a table. It was a long table, and many chairs were tucked underneath it, although it is obvious that the table has never been full before. He turned and filled a cube with energon, and set it on the table for Kol, taking a seat opposite the assassin.

"This may surprise you, but Darkfire has quite a strong sense of honor. Although, she has always been one to do anything necessary to accomplish a goal."

The master regarded Kol with kind optics for a moment.

"Oh, where are my manners? I have simply been rambling on. Forgive me, I am rather fond of my students, current and former. How is the energon?"

[Laser]

Kol's energon was very strong. Being a drone, his systems weren't as strong as natural cybertronians. Mostly everything about him was artificial. He listened to the old master speak about Darkfire. He didn't think anyone had any honor these days. It was interesting, indeed. "This is very good energon, thank you. Master, I have a problem. Your pupil has a younger sister, as you may already know. She feels as if she is in danger. It is causing her great distress and forcing her to make rather.....rash...decisions. I have no doubt in my abilities to try to defend myself, but I do not think I am safe while alone with the mistress. Please, speak with her. She is hurting internally."

[Foxfire]

The master's expression grew very concerned as Kol went on to elaborate on Darkfire's condition. He thought back to his previous encounters with his student. Every time that she had mentioned her sister, Darkfire's expression had grown soft and less guarded. That love and care obvious on Darkfire's face was one of the reasons the master had agreed to take her on as a student. Her current anguish...The master had to run the scenarios through his processor. If her sister was injured or ill, his student would never leave her side. If she was in danger, Darkfire would be the first to the rescue.

No. It was something more. Darkfire could not go to her sister for whatever reason. Whether she be hurt or in peril, Darkfire could not go to her sister's side anymore. It was the only reason that the master could decipher from this. The master nodded to Kol and stood.

"I shall speak with her. Please wait here until my return, but don't hesitate to help yourself to more energon if you are in need of more of a recharge."

The master stood and bowed to Kol, then proceeded outside. He made his way over to his student's retreat where she was hard at work, sculpting a new creation. Darkfire heard her master coming, and turned to face him as he stopped.

"Little one, why can you not return to your sister?"

Always so perceptive. Darkfire scowled. She hated being so transparent. Kol had probably said something as well, but the master had no doubt pieced something close to the truth together.

"Because this is the only way to protect her now. She left the Decepticons. I must remain a Decepticon and protect her from this side. The ultimate protection."

"But wouldn't your sister try to convince you to join the Autobots? Couldn't you protect her as an Autobot?"

"No. I...have lied to her for too many years, and now she knows it. What she will learn of me in the coming orns...No. She has the greatest protection that I could possibly give her on the Autobot side. Someone needs to protect her from the Decepticon side. No one else can do it but me."

"I am sure that your sister would not fight you and call you over to the Autobots despite your efforts."

"No. She wouldn't. Not anymore. Not after what I have done. My sister will...hate...me, if she doesn't already."

The master was silent a few moments. He moved over to his apprentice and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder.

"You have chosen a hard path for yourself, little one, but you should not despair. Your sister will always have love for you. Whether it will be clouded by hurt and anger, I do not know. Perhaps one day, you will be able to make amends."

The pain in Darkfire's optics slowly melted away as she considered this. What her master was really giving her was hope. A very small amount, but it was still hope where none had been before. The hope made the pain hurt that much less. It cleared her mind and made her think of her next objective. In short, Darkfire was back in business. Darkfire looked at her master gratefully.

"Thank you, master."

"You are most welcome, Darkfire."

The master smiled as Darkfire turned to finish her current creation. More energy infused the assassin's movements. The master knew that she would be alright now. He turned and returned to the cottage where he once again met with Kol.

"You have nothing to worry about anymore. Why don't you go fetch her, and I shall meet you at your ship with some energon for the journey?"

[Laser]

Kol smiled at the kind old master and hopped up from his seat, bowing graciously. "Great thanks, master. I'll see you at the ship."

Outside the cottage, he found Darkfire working on a project with full concentration. Unsure how to speak with her, he finally just spoke. "Hello, mistress. Your master is a kind person. You're very blessed to have someone like him in your life." He gestured towards the ship. "He will be meeting us at the ship. Shall we?"