* Stardrive sits at the bar.
* Stardrive grabs some micro-cubes.
* Stardrive tosses one up in the air and catches it in his mouth.
<Waitstate> Y'know, if shipboard commerce starts picking up, I may have to start charging in here
<Stardrive> Then we'll have to boycott. ;)
<Stardrive> I made these dumb things. I'd better have a credit line.
<Waitstate> true enough. I suppose you would
* Stardrive tosses another one up in the air and catches it in his mouth.
<Waitstate> ah well. I guess I'll have to make a command staff exception or something
<Stardrive> Or just me. ;)
<Waitstate> Someone been taking the compressed air to their ego today? ;)
<Stardrive> That reminds me... did I ever show you this...
* Stardrive jams three cubes together.
* Dead_Lift listens to the Mr. Mackey song
<Dead_Lift> Hmkay?
* Stardrive tosses the tri-cube across the room and it explodes against the far wall.
<Stardrive> I love that...
<Stardrive> Must be hanging around Blacknife too long, eh?
<Waitstate> nifty pyrotechnics. You're sure that isn't going to damage anything?
<Stardrive> Did I ever tell you about the time I saved a Verrellian cruiser with my lunch?
* Waitstate laughs
<Stardrive> Not three minicubes. 
<Dead_Lift> This room is stuffy.
* Dead_Lift heads towards the window
<Stardrive> Well, turn on the ventilation.
* Stardrive sees Shadowstrike walk in.
* Stardrive sees Shadowstrike walk out.
* Stardrive sees Shadowstrike walk back in.
<Stardrive> Hey, Shadow.
<Shadowstrike> Hello Stardrive.
<Waitstate> Hey Shadowstrike. The usual?
<Stardrive> Stop wearing the door out, sit.
<Shadowstrike> Yes, please.
* Waitstate mixes a Core Dump
<Shadowstrike> I thought I heard someone call for me in the hallway, SD, just ducked back out to see who it was.
<Stardrive> As I was saying, three mini-cubes against THESE bulkheads... no way.
<Waitstate> yeah, but against my wall paneling?
<Stardrive> What was that made of again?
* Shadowstrike takes the drink from Wait and sits down.
<Shadowstrike> What are you two on about?
<Stardrive> I'll show you.
* Stardrive jams three cubes together.
* Stardrive tosses the tri-cube across the room and it explodes against the far wall.
<Stardrive> Neat, huh?
* Shadowstrike gives Wait a puzzled look.
* Stardrive tosses another mini-cube in the air and catches it in his mouth.
<Stardrive> I was just about to tell Wait about the time I saved a Verrellian cruiser with my lunch.
<Waitstate> Yeah, and I was just bored enough to listen
* Shadowstrike smiles in an amused sort of way.
<Shadowstrike> How many drinks have YOU had tonight, SD?
<Stardrive> I just got here.
<Stardrive> All I've had are these cubes.
* Shadowstrike finishes off her drink.
<Stardrive> Besides... even if I HAD anything... 
<Stardrive> I've got converters out the manifold.
* Shadowstrike laughs
* Waitstate laughs at the old joke
* Waitstate tosses a minicube in the air, the ignites it with a low power laser pulse
<Stardrive> I usually don't touch that weird stuff Wait serves... some of that can clog the injectors.
<Shadowstrike> Aww, don't be so stuffy SD.
<Stardrive> Overcharged energon's my usual.  With my and Tri's systems, it's actually GOOD for us.
<Shadowstrike> Most anything's good for me *laughs*.
* Waitstate indulges himself and gets out a tankard of Surge
* Stardrive shakes his head.
<Shadowstrike> What *is* that, Wait...?
<Waitstate> Thank goodness New Iceland is mostly a human world :)
<Waitstate> I seriously needed to restock
<Shadowstrike> That reminds me of something I saw on Earth once, actually...
<Waitstate> this? it's mostly sugar suspended in carbonated water
<Waitstate> heh, I too have converters :)
<Stardrive> Now something like that I can consume with that new matter-to-energy converter... but it's not very efficient. It's a rather new Verrellian invention.
<Waitstate> mine has 87% effeciency
<Shadowstrike> something like that is *no* good for me. heh.
<Waitstate> on the average anyway. I can only do organic material though
<Stardrive> But putting anything with energon in it into the converter... not good.
<Stardrive> So I couldn't use it for Wait's weird concoctions... 
<Stardrive> And I've seen what it does to most of you 'bots.
<Stardrive> I'll stick with the pure stuff.
* Shadowstrike laughs
<Waitstate> Anyway, I probly shouldn't consume this stuff. It DOES leave some waste material, that has to be periodically cleaned out. I'm built to handle it though.
<Shadowstrike> Never did care for organics
<Waitstate> They're an... aquired taste I suppose
<Waitstate> It's a habit I picked up from my partner early in life. What can I say?
<Stardrive> It's something I never was able to do until that last trip Tri and I took.
<Stardrive> Remember, when the ship was overhauled?
<Waitstate> I remember. You told me about it
<Artifice> Hello
<Shadowstrike> Hello, Artifice.
<Stardrive> Hey, Artie.
<Artifice> Things have gotten pretty quiet on the ship
<Waitstate> Hey Artifice! What'll it be?
<Waitstate> Is quiet a bad thing?
<Artifice> eh, whatever you're having
<Waitstate> what -I'M- having?
* Waitstate tips his tankard to show Arti the soda inside
<Shadowstrike> Another core dump, if you please... 
* Waitstate pulls a second Core Dump out from behind the bar, already prepared, and hands it to Strike
<Shadowstrike> Heh, you know me far too well.
* Shadowstrike takes the drink 
<Artifice> I guess I'll take it
<Stardrive> One of these days, you're going to have too many of those and you WILL dump your core.
<Artifice> When you've been to as many places as me you get used to the taste of everything
<Shadowstrike> Don't worry, SD. That will never happen.
<Waitstate> Well, I still wouldn't recommend it unless you can handle organic materials in your system
<Artifice> I'll learn
<Waitstate> heh, as you say
* Waitstate gets out a second tankard of Surge
<Stardrive> That's what they ALL say, Shadow.
* Stardrive plinks a micro-cube into Artifice's drink.
* Waitstate watches a massive fizz start up
<Artifice> Vacation is rather nice, with all of us on it
<Shadowstrike> Is that thing building up to melt down?
* Waitstate looks to Shadowstrike
<Shadowstrike> Ha, this is the first I've had off since we've been here...
<Waitstate> I don't know. that's one mix I never tried
<Shadowstrike> Is it supposed to do that?
<Artifice> it's too bad we lost some crew members in the last few months
<Waitstate> sort of
* Waitstate turns to Artifice
<Stardrive> Now that's a surge.
<Waitstate> Really... won't be the same without those guys
<Stardrive> Yeah... 
<Stardrive> Is that good or bad, though?
<Waitstate> Your call
<Shadowstrike> Strange looking reaction, that's for certain.
<Waitstate> Well, it does look like that. Only not glowing.
* Dead_Lift enters the bar
<Stardrive> Hey DL.
<Shadowstrike> You know, I haven't seen Blacknife lately. Where has that pain in my diodes been?
<Shadowstrike> Hi, Dead Lift.
<Dead_Lift> Hello.
<Waitstate> Didn't he go off to New Iceland?
* Dead_Lift finds a table and sits down
<Waitstate> I thought I saw him, but the Cybertronian district is pretty crowded
<Shadowstrike> I wouldn't know. I've been stuck here *unhappy look*
<Waitstate> So take some time off. I can take care of the ship for a while :P
<Shadowstrike> So, DL, why aren't you on vacation?
<Dead_Lift> Did I have some vacation time coming?
<Shadowstrike> We're basically all on vacation...
<Waitstate> Hey, that's half the reason why we're here
<Shadowstrike> And Wait, I'm too busy finishing off your supply of Core Dumps to go meandering about right this minute...
<Waitstate> excuses, excuses :P
<Stardrive> Hehe.
<Dead_Lift> Well, shucks, guess I'll take one then.
<Stardrive> Get 'em while they're free, I guess.
<Stardrive> Make like a camel.
* Waitstate gives DL the one he was making for Strike
<Shadowstrike> A ...? oh, never mind.
<Shadowstrike> HEY!
<Dead_Lift> Thanks!
* Shadowstrike waves her empty mug at Wait.
<Dead_Lift> Tough luck sister.
* Stardrive restrains Shadow from feeding DL the bar top.
* Dead_Lift drinks every drop
<Waitstate> oh come on, you though I only had one in the works?
<Shadowstrike> All right, Wait, you owe me another one... :P
<Shadowstrike> For DL's sake, you'd better have more... :p
* Waitstate hands her the other one
<Shadowstrike> thank you.
* Shadowstrike downs the fresh drink.
<Dead_Lift> Maybe I should have let those Decepticon friends of yours scrap you, Shadow...
* Dead_Lift grins
* Shadowstrike glowers at DL.
<Shadowstrike> Some guard you are, anyhow.
<Dead_Lift> Ok, Miss I can take care of this myself. hehe
<Shadowstrike> And if you'd been doing your job, they wouldn't have gotten any farther than the conference room door.
<Waitstate> ok everyone, let's not go there now
<Dead_Lift> If you'd been doing yours, they wouldn't have gotten TO the door.
<Dead_Lift> hehe, I'm only kidding with you Striker.
* Shadowstrike slams the mug back on the bar, turns on her heel and storms out.
<Waitstate> augh! *drops down into his chair*
<Dead_Lift> Is it her time of the cycle or something?
* Stardrive knocks DL off his seat.
<Stardrive> We should cycle you out the airlock.
<Dead_Lift> Ouch!
<Dead_Lift> Told her I was only kidding....sheesh...
* Stardrive goes off in search of Shadow.
* Stardrive says hello to Junky as he goes out the door.
* Junky_LaFord enters.
* Shadowstrike arrives at her quarters and promptly kicks a chair across the room.
<Dead_Lift> Heya Junky
* SkySiren knocks on Shadow's door when she hears the commotion inside "Shadow?"
<Junky_LaFord> Hey, me homies, what's up the flagpole this fine, fine morning glory and honor and all that jazz?
* Shadowstrike glowers at the door. "Yes?"
* Dead_Lift looks blankly as he hears Junky speak for the first time.
* SkySiren stands her ground "Is everything alright?"
* Shadowstrike considers her response so as to increase the chance of being left alone.
<Shadowstrike> Just fine, Sky. Sorry if I bothered you.
<SkySiren> It's okay..you didn't bother me
<Dead_Lift> Could you pass me another drink, Wait?
* Waitstate passes DL a straight-up overcharged
<Dead_Lift> Thanks.
<Artifice> you know, the new recruit has the strangest things in her shop
<Waitstate> Really? I didn't notice anything too odd
<Artifice> There's some items in the back room of her shop
<Artifice> thought I'd have myself a look
* Trilana sees Sky but watches her wander off for no apparent reason.
* Trilana rings Shadow's chime.
<Shadowstrike> *sounding a bit irritated* Yes?
<Trilana> What happened to Sky?
<Shadowstrike> I don't know. She stopped and ask if I was all right. Then she left. I suppose she's just patrolling the ship.
<Trilana> Oh... well, anyway, I have something for you... can you open the door?
<Trilana> It won't fit underneath. ;)
<Artifice> We get a lot of strange bots here
<Artifice> Get used to it
* Waitstate finishes off his Surge, then gets out something a bit... stronger
<Trilana> Shadow?
* Shadowstrike opens the door 
* Trilana hands Shadow a snow globe with the Freedom inside.
* Shadowstrike is surprised.
<Shadowstrike> Thanks, Tri... that was really nice of you...
<Trilana> Actually, Star got it.
<Trilana> Star said he'd bring you something back, remember?
<Trilana> He told me you were in a bad mood, so I figured it would be the perfect time to bring it to you.
<Shadowstrike> Ah. Well, I appreciate it.
* Dead_Lift calls Shadowstrike on the comm
* Shadowstrike ignores DL
* Dead_Lift tries again
<Shadowstrike> [comm, to DL] Look, unless it's an emergency...
* Trilana leans on the wall.
<Dead_Lift> [comm] Sorry! I was only KIDDING, buddy! Don't take offense!
<Shadowstrike> Thanks for bringing me the present, Tri.
<Trilana> I'll leave you to talk to Mr. heavy lifting.  ;)
<Shadowstrike> Ugh...
* Trilana giggles.
<Trilana> See you.
* Trilana leaves.
<Shadowstrike> Bye, Tri.
<Shadowstrike> [comm, to DL] All right, fair enough.
* Stardrive reenters the bar
<Dead_Lift> [comm] ok, good then we're cool. Now come back to the bar and drink with us!
<Waitstate> Hey Stardrive. What happened?
* Stardrive sits down.
* Shadowstrike sits the little snow globe in her quarters carefully.
<Shadowstrike> [comm] No thanks, I'm not much in the mood. Maybe later.
<Dead_Lift> [comm] these are pretty cool walky talkies, huh?
<Dead_Lift> hehe
<Stardrive> Oh, SkySiren ran into me in the corridor... literally.
<Waitstate> ouch
<Dead_Lift> [comm] Hey listen to this!
<Stardrive> I had to take her to medbay.
* Dead_Lift drops a pin
<Dead_Lift> [comm] Did you hear that?!
<Stardrive> I wasn't in such good shape myself...
* Shadowstrike turns off her comm.
<Dead_Lift> hey! Damn, she hung up on me...
<Stardrive> I sent Trilana to cheer her up with that snowglobe.
<Shadowstrike> Where can a person be alone on this ship?
<Waitstate> oh, neat. How did those turn out?
* Shadowstrike decides she's too easily found in her quarters, so she takes the lift to Deck 3: The Observation Deck (tm)
<Dead_Lift> [comm] Striker, you there!?
* Dead_Lift jumps at the beeping sound eminating from inside his chest cavity
<Dead_Lift> I gotta go....Thanks for the drinks Wait!
<Waitstate> Seeya DL
* Dead_Lift exits the bar and heads for his quarters
* Dead_Lift enters his room
<Dead_Lift> Geez, that was close...
* Dead_Lift pushes a button on his chest, causing the center panel to slide down, revealing his inner circuits
* Shadowstrike sits all alone in the peace and quiet of the observation deck
* Dead_Lift takes a small device from his chest, tweaks it a little, places it back in his chest and closes up
* Waitstate looks around
<Waitstate> geez, the people here drink a lot
<Dead_Lift> I can't believe he gave ME this thing, perhaps I should mention it to Wait soon...
<Stardrive> They do.
* Waitstate gets up and starts collecting empty tankards
<Artifice> tah tah!
<Stardrive> Bye Arty
<Junky_LaFord> Fare thee well, me homie.
<Waitstate> Bye Artifice. 
* Shadowstrike decides to go finish off another Core Dump, maybe it'll make her feel better...
* Shadowstrike heads back down to the bar.
* Shadowstrike re-enters the bar.
* Waitstate looks up from a table he's cleaning
<Waitstate> back again?
<Shadowstrike> Yeah. Another drink, if you don't mind.
<Stardrive> Her core must still be intact.
* Waitstate walks over
* Waitstate pulls a Core Dump out of seemingly nowhere
* Waitstate sets it down in front of her
<Shadowstrike> Thank you, Wait.
* Dead_Lift sits down at the comm in his quarters, just as the device in his chest begins to go off again.
<Dead_Lift> What the-? I just fixed yo-
* Dead_Lift suddenly falls face first into the console, unconcious
* Shadowstrike enjoys her drink.
* Stardrive holds the sides of his head.
<Stardrive> The slag was that?!?
<Waitstate> hm?
<Shadowstrike> What?
<Stardrive> That noise!
<Shadowstrike> I didn't hear anything.
<Stardrive> Commlink's open...
* Waitstate checks
* Stardrive gets a communication from Tri
<Shadowstrike> Oh, well, I turned mine off because of DL
<Waitstate> So it is... open line in Deadlift's quarters
<Stardrive> Well, you don't have comm systems like ours...
<Waitstate> No, I don't.
<Shadowstrike> no....
<Stardrive> Not you, Tri... oh, that's right... you can't hear her.
<Stardrive> Nevermind.
<Waitstate> funny that :p
<Stardrive> Shall we see what he's up to now?
* Dead_Lift 's eyes brighten for a few seconds "They are coming..."
* Dead_Lift falls again, this time motionless
<Stardrive> Who?
<Stardrive> I hate it when things like this happen...
<Shadowstrike> Huh?
<Stardrive> He said, "They are coming."
<Stardrive> He's probably delierious, but... 
* Shadowstrike gives SD a puzzled look.
<Shadowstrike> You'd better send Restore over there to take care of him.
<Waitstate> hmm
<Stardrive> Somehow, around here... it's never that easy.
<Waitstate> Restore is off ship
<Shadowstrike> wonderful
<Waitstate> c'mon, let's go see what happened
<Shadowstrike> ok, ok.
* Stardrive gets up.
* Waitstate sets the bar to automatic mode and walks out
* Shadowstrike follows SD and Wait.
* Stardrive goes to wherever Deadlift's quarters are.
* Waitstate taps the signal by DL's door
* Dead_Lift isn't moving
* Waitstate taps it again
<Waitstate> What do you guys think?
<Stardrive> I hear the bell over the comm... no other sounds from inside.
<Shadowstrike> Better go in?
<Waitstate> hm
<Waitstate> Computer, open the door please
<Computer> The door is locked
<Waitstate> Override
<Computer> Command override accepted
* Doors open 
* Stardrive rushes in.
* Waitstate follows behind
<Shadowstrike> What's happened?
* Stardrive sees DL slumped over the panel.
* the room is in order, with the exception of DL faceplanted in the computer
<Stardrive> I think the core dump finally lived up to its name.
<Waitstate> not funny Star.
<Shadowstrike> Not funny at all.
<Stardrive> It's the best I can do. I'm not a medic.
<Stardrive> For all I know it's true.
<Waitstate> [COMM] Terrafirma, can you come down to Deadlift's quarters please?
* Dead_Lift's left optic is smashed
<Terrafirma> On my way
<Stardrive> Those things are not good for cybertronian systems.
<Shadowstrike> Yeah, well, I've had... erm. several, and I'm fine.
* Stardrive looks at Shadow.
<Stardrive> So far.
<Waitstate> Hey, I've thouroughly tested them over the years. My fare is not the cause.
* Terrafirma enters
<Terrafirma> Ok, I'm here. What did you need?
<Waitstate> You have medical training, right?
<Stardrive> Not all at once, but system degradation over time...
<Shadowstrike> Oh, please, SD, I'm not going to keel over. :p
<Terrafirma> Well, some.... why?
<Stardrive> That's what they ALL say.  
* Waitstate motions to Dead Lift
<Terrafirma> Oh
* Stardrive keeps a straight face and turns his attention to Terra and DL
* Terrafirma takes a look at Dead Lift
<Terrafirma> Well... his optic seems to have taken some damage.
* Shadowstrike crosses her arms and leans against the wall
<Terrafirma> It seems mostly superficial though. It shouldn't have caused any more than a lot of pain
<Stardrive> Probably when his face hit the panel... it didn't do the panel much good either.
<Shadowstrike> Why's he unconscious, then?
* Stardrive contacts Junky.
<Terrafirma> I have no idea. I just have field training. Basic circuit repair, body work, that sort of thing
<Stardrive> Well, let's see if Junky can tell us anything.
<Stardrive> Don't know what could have happened to him...
<Stardrive> He must have stopped to get his tools.
* The beeping sound from DL's chest returns
<Shadowstrike> what's that?
<Terrafirma> Now THAT'S definatly non-standard
* Junky_LaFord arrives
<Stardrive> Ah... here he is.
<Terrafirma> You think it'd hurt him to move him?
* the beeping stops again
* Junky_LaFord sees DL.
<Stardrive> Junky, can you tell us what's wrong with Dead Lift?
<Stardrive> Restore is off ship.
<Terrafirma> And it's definitly out of my league
<Junky_LaFord> Well, well, well... what have you done now....  offline and outta wack 
* Junky_LaFord inspects DL and scans him with scanners.
* Junky_LaFord opens his chest and looks at the blinking thing.
<Shadowstrike> Whoa, what's that?
* Waitstate peers over Junky's shoulder
* the object is round with blue light eminating from it
* it is attached from both sides of the chest cavity
<Junky_LaFord> It's a beeping thing... with lights flashing... they're beeping and flashing... they're flashing and beeping!!!!
<Shadowstrike> hrm...
<Junky_LaFord> I can't take it any more!!! They're beeping and flashing and beeping!!!
<Stardrive> He said it's a little object that beeps and has a blue light on it.
* Blacknife ENTERS
<Shadowstrike> That sounds like a homing beacon
<Waitstate> I can see that Stardrive
<Blacknife> Goooood morning 
<Stardrive> How'd you find us?
<Junky_LaFord> It's not just an arrow, but a link... a link to the beyond... deep, deep....
<Stardrive> He said it seems so, but it's connected to Dead Lift's internal circutry... it's not necessarily a seperate piece... it's integrated.
<Waitstate> And you never picked up on it before?
* Blacknife wanders around the ship
* Stardrive converses with Junky.
<Stardrive> It apparently wasn't working before...  except perhaps in microbursts.  It's on an odd frequency... 
<Stardrive> Same as a lot of natural radiation...
<Waitstate> still, with your much-vaunted skills, I would have thought you'd have noticed it
<Stardrive> I don't listen for natural radiation... it would be like listening to static all day long.
<Shadowstrike> So it's a sneaky homing beacon.
* Dead_Lift twitches
* Junky_LaFord finishes repairs.
<Shadowstrike> Any ideas on whose?
<Waitstate> well, I suppose we should look in to it now that we know about- whoa, what'd you do Junky?
* Dead_Lift's head rises up, and his one good optic illuminates
<Shadowstrike> DL, are you ok?
* Dead_Lift looks around, shocked to find himself surrounded
<Waitstate> you ok Dead Lift?
* Dead_Lift realizes his chest is open
<Dead_Lift> No, none of us are....
<Dead_Lift> I'm so sorry, so sorry....
<Shadowstrike> Eh?
<Stardrive> I knew it.
* Waitstate's expression falls
<Shadowstrike> What's going on, DL?
<Dead_Lift> Where to start....?
<Stardrive> I thought he might have been delirious... but nothing's ever that easy in LONAC.
* to be continued...
* Dramatic music