After Jetstorm leaves the Medbay post-haste with Auspex in his arms, he weaves off down through the side-corridors, going for the same side door that he took earlier to get outside
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*Auspex is holding on tightly, though she isn't paying attention to where Jetstorm's going; she's busy trying to allow Primus some leeway into his mind.
It is in that commune, that she begins to realize what is ailing Jetstorm. Though she is fairly certain that Galvatron and his triad have very little of the power of Unicron in them anymore, Galvatron himself still has very powerful energy, and it still retains its Chaotic nature. Apparently, it's enough to trigger a relapse, though fortunately he felt threatened by it enough to flee it before it could take deeper root. In some ways, she's glad he took her along, so she can attempt to keep his sanity from slipping away too far. It's not fair that he should have to suffer for it like this...
She hisses as she's quite literally shaken from her concentration. She glances at him sharply, but clings a little closer as she sees how high up they are; she is decidedly not a flyer, in build or in mentality. Her voice is somewhat weak* I only wished you to be calm. You are not thinking clearly... *she shudders for a moment, partly out of fear, partly because she can only imagine the state his mind must be in at the moment. She prays for soothing and strength for both of them... and that he doesn't lose his mind enough that he would drop her!*
"I am thinking very clearly," Jetstorm informs her severely. "I simply do not see a reason to stand and wait to be destroyed by my enemies."
He twists in mid-air abruptly, shifting from his near-horizontal flying position to upright in the air and gradually descending onto a mountainside. Something akin to relief twists around him, but he does not relax.
*she nods thoughtfully* You have a point... though he would not destroy you intentionally. It is the chaotic power he eminates that reminds your senses of their old ways... and makes you feel threatened. It's just as well that you fled; I don't know what the energy would have done to your mind, and for how long. Your behavior is different enough already. I'm... sorry I didn't realize what it was, sooner.
*As he lands, Auspex is also relieved, if nothing else, for the fact that Jetstorm is on solid ground again. She sighs softly* I don't believe I was unsafe there, with Ratchet and Skyfire... but I do appreciate your concern for my safety. Thank you. *That's not his sole motivation, she knows -- he seems to instinctively want something of Primus with him as his mind sorts through the echoes of chaos -- but the wish for her well-being is there, also, whatever the motive, and she is grateful for it. It seems a little overkill, coming way out here to... wherever here is... but it's important that he feel safe as well. He was the one that was truly threatened, in the medbay*
*She directs her attention to his brothers, looking for their feelings and reactions, though she doesn't address them specifically. After a few moments, she glances down at the ground under Jetstorm's feet, and fidgets slightly* Am I allowed to stand now? *her question is not without some humor*
His brothers feel suppressed, mentally and emotionally, not quite as aware of the world as Jetstorm is. If Auspex had ever been around him when he fought dangerous enemies at Void's behest, she might recognize the effect.
"You may stand." He sets her down gently, hands withdrawing briefly...
Then one reaches up and catches hold of her chin, tilting her face up to look at him. "Strange little thing."
*Auspex sighs in relief as her feet touch the ground. She's decided flying could be enjoyable under certain circumstances -- and that these were not them.*
*She ponders the state she finds his brothers in: it's not quite disturbing, but definitely not a natural condition for a mind to be in. But then, Jetstorm is in many ways rather unnatural. Again, she prays that those shells will be finished quickly.*
*Her optics flicker in surprise as he lifts her face to meet his gaze -- it's a rather bold gesture, and not one she's prepared to understand. She doesn't move, in the way one might be still when a well-meaning but otherwise dangerous creature decides to investigate. She blinks up at him, brow furrowing in slight puzzlement*
Now her optics flicker out completely for a moment, her mind numbing briefly at the... mystery of that thought. What..? On a spiritual level, it makes sense -- an Autobot, built as a protector, having been forced to take Chaos into his nature, and become a destroyer -- give him freedom from that, and he will likely seek the polar opposite as a refuge. This seems to have been magnified by the threat of Chaos that he just escaped from.
But there is curiosity there, a wanting to know more of what she is, and, the most boggling of all, a slight hint of wanting her. That's not something she often is confronted with, not without complete ignorance to her nature, which he seems to know well enough, by now. Her mind stumbles. She answers him, somewhat weakly* That... is strange.
"Yes, it is." Both hands cup her cheeks, and he watches her oh-so intently. How can she affect him so, draw him to her as a moth to a flame, seduce him with her indigo optics and clear voice? How can he allow her to live, knowing that she affects him so?
*Auspex trembles visibly, feeling stifled, drowned in this unnerving stare and his hands on her face, so she can't move, can't look away, mind slowing. His mental impressions trail from intent study to something harder to read, obscure, dark... and they feel dangerous. She reaches up with shaking hands, attempting to coax his away from her face and curl her fingers around them. Her optics darken, breaking optic contact so that she can think, and call Primus's calm to her*
*Her mind holds to Primus earnestly, and she gains some discernment, but still, her voice is fainter than she'd like. She strokes Jetstorm's fingers, in what she hopes is a soothing manner* Please... you are frightening me. You are in the dark, you are seeking light, and you see the light of Primus that I hold; that is what draws you. Your spark craves it... It is not me, it isn't as simple as that.
"Perhaps you are merely a prism," he allows, his emotions settling as she strokes his fingers. It is soothing to be touched so, and soothing to be out here in the mountains, away from his enemies and those who are neither enemy nor ally.
Were the Cocytus in orbit, he would take her up and lock her in his quarters. Keep her away from the Void, keep her for himself. A prism shining light into his darkness, until the darkness smothered her shining light.
*she senses the possessiveness, the want to keep the light hidden for himself, but also resignation, as though it is inevitable that he will lose it anyway. This could mean many things: he may be operating on truth, that he will purposefully let her go -- probably in death -- or he may be lost in his memories of life before, and what would happen to her in such a place. She hopes it is the latter...*
*She continues caressing his hands with her fingers, sensing the calm it brings, and allowing Primus's calm to permeate her own *mind. She will not panic, she will not be lost in fear for her own life. It's still there, but she must focus on him*
*she feels confident enough to meet his gaze again. There is still trembling, but focus. Her voice is gentle* I would not have to fear you as much as this... do you forget what Primus has done? You are free of your binds to Unicron, and those that serve his Chaos. You have no need to be surrounded in darkness anymore; your senses are holding you to a depth you have transcended. Galvatron's power caused this. Do you remember? Your brothers are clean, you are whole. There is no need to stifle the light, when it is something you long to have with you. There are no consequences to living in light. It's the darkness that will destroy you, and that need not happen. Come back, Jetstorm. You are wandering away, down broken paths. *her optics plead. Don't be lost, don't..*
He smiles down at her, thumbs sliding over her cheeks to rest just on the side of her nasal ridge. There's a faint chill to her metal, as if the light is already flickering. But he knows she's stronger than that. She severed his connection to the Void, after all.
"Don't fret, priestess, I'm here," he assures her gently. "There's no one in my head but me. I'm just trying to protect us from Galvatron. He won't find us out here. No one will find us without me knowing they're coming."
This evidently pleases Jetstorm, as does merely listening to the sound of her voice. Even being near her is comforting in a way, like the hum of the Cocytus's engines while he slept.
*It is colder here, at these heights, than Auspex is accustomed to, and her systems are taking their time to compensate for it. On the other hand, they may have a while, if no one can find them unless Jetstorm wishes it; it depends on his mind. She isn't sure she finds that reassuring. But he does seem to be calming, however slightly, and she tries to encourage it, still softly smoothing his hands*
*She studies his face pensively, though not approaching the intensity with which he seems to be scrutinizing her* Please, be careful of your thinking, Jetstorm. There are times you seem to forget that you are free. There was death in your thoughts only a moment ago... outside forces can tip your mind in a dark direction, as Galvatron's power has done; but you can learn to be aware of it, and be prepared.
As for me... *again she pulls on one of his hands, trying to take it in her own, away from her face, and ease this trapped feeling, held under his piercing gaze as she is* I am not your only light, Jetstorm. You carry Primus in your spark, and he hears you, if you speak to him. Please don't think I am your redemption... though I will do all I can to keep you from the dark, when I am here. It is when I am not, that you must learn to rely on him, and not on me.
"I don't think you are my redemption, priestess." He cradles her face gently in his hands, optics intense. "You are a channel of Primus's power, just as Sideways is a channel of Unicron's power. And I certainly do not mistake him for the god."
She is soft, malleable. He doesn't think she quite understands how intelligent he is under the destructive tendencies. But not everyone realized how intelligent Silverbolt was, either.
*she gives up trying to remove his hands, resting her own loosely on his forearms. She nods briefly, silently, watching him for a moment* I'm relieved to hear that. Your thoughts confuse me at times... you are somewhat hard to read.
*It's not a question of intelligence, but of spiritual sensitivity. She has learned to assume nothing of anyone's perception... too often has she been unpleasantly surprised, and too late. Sometimes it seems to insult their intelligence, but it is better to be safe.*
I only warn you, because I've had experience in the past with a few of my charges becoming too dependent on me, and not enough on Primus himself. But I suppose you do have experience with... servants of gods. *not that she's very happy about comparing herself to a servant of Unicron... but the parallel is applicable*
"It is better to be hidden behind storm clouds, than for anyone and everyone to know me utterly by sight alone." There is a quality to his voice that suggests that not only is he quoting something, he's translating it too.
"I am a servant of a god, priestess." His thumbs slide back across her face until they rest against the sides of his index fingers. "I know a few things about how they work."
His brothers are becoming less emotionally and mentally muted as he stands there, and they're extremely irritated by what they just went through. None of them has yet to speak, however.
It is in that commune, that she begins to realize what is ailing Jetstorm. Though she is fairly certain that Galvatron and his triad have very little of the power of Unicron in them anymore, Galvatron himself still has very powerful energy, and it still retains its Chaotic nature. Apparently, it's enough to trigger a relapse, though fortunately he felt threatened by it enough to flee it before it could take deeper root. In some ways, she's glad he took her along, so she can attempt to keep his sanity from slipping away too far. It's not fair that he should have to suffer for it like this...
She hisses as she's quite literally shaken from her concentration. She glances at him sharply, but clings a little closer as she sees how high up they are; she is decidedly not a flyer, in build or in mentality. Her voice is somewhat weak* I only wished you to be calm. You are not thinking clearly... *she shudders for a moment, partly out of fear, partly because she can only imagine the state his mind must be in at the moment. She prays for soothing and strength for both of them... and that he doesn't lose his mind enough that he would drop her!*
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He twists in mid-air abruptly, shifting from his near-horizontal flying position to upright in the air and gradually descending onto a mountainside. Something akin to relief twists around him, but he does not relax.
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*As he lands, Auspex is also relieved, if nothing else, for the fact that Jetstorm is on solid ground again. She sighs softly* I don't believe I was unsafe there, with Ratchet and Skyfire... but I do appreciate your concern for my safety. Thank you. *That's not his sole motivation, she knows -- he seems to instinctively want something of Primus with him as his mind sorts through the echoes of chaos -- but the wish for her well-being is there, also, whatever the motive, and she is grateful for it. It seems a little overkill, coming way out here to... wherever here is... but it's important that he feel safe as well. He was the one that was truly threatened, in the medbay*
*She directs her attention to his brothers, looking for their feelings and reactions, though she doesn't address them specifically. After a few moments, she glances down at the ground under Jetstorm's feet, and fidgets slightly* Am I allowed to stand now? *her question is not without some humor*
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"You may stand." He sets her down gently, hands withdrawing briefly...
Then one reaches up and catches hold of her chin, tilting her face up to look at him. "Strange little thing."
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*She ponders the state she finds his brothers in: it's not quite disturbing, but definitely not a natural condition for a mind to be in. But then, Jetstorm is in many ways rather unnatural. Again, she prays that those shells will be finished quickly.*
*Her optics flicker in surprise as he lifts her face to meet his gaze -- it's a rather bold gesture, and not one she's prepared to understand. She doesn't move, in the way one might be still when a well-meaning but otherwise dangerous creature decides to investigate. She blinks up at him, brow furrowing in slight puzzlement*
Strange? How am I strange?
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But there is curiosity there, a wanting to know more of what she is, and, the most boggling of all, a slight hint of wanting her. That's not something she often is confronted with, not without complete ignorance to her nature, which he seems to know well enough, by now. Her mind stumbles. She answers him, somewhat weakly* That... is strange.
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*Her mind holds to Primus earnestly, and she gains some discernment, but still, her voice is fainter than she'd like. She strokes Jetstorm's fingers, in what she hopes is a soothing manner* Please... you are frightening me. You are in the dark, you are seeking light, and you see the light of Primus that I hold; that is what draws you. Your spark craves it... It is not me, it isn't as simple as that.
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Were the Cocytus in orbit, he would take her up and lock her in his quarters. Keep her away from the Void, keep her for himself. A prism shining light into his darkness, until the darkness smothered her shining light.
"I should frighten you, lightshine."
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*She continues caressing his hands with her fingers, sensing the calm it brings, and allowing Primus's calm to permeate her own *mind. She will not panic, she will not be lost in fear for her own life. It's still there, but she must focus on him*
*she feels confident enough to meet his gaze again. There is still trembling, but focus. Her voice is gentle* I would not have to fear you as much as this... do you forget what Primus has done? You are free of your binds to Unicron, and those that serve his Chaos. You have no need to be surrounded in darkness anymore; your senses are holding you to a depth you have transcended. Galvatron's power caused this. Do you remember? Your brothers are clean, you are whole. There is no need to stifle the light, when it is something you long to have with you. There are no consequences to living in light. It's the darkness that will destroy you, and that need not happen. Come back, Jetstorm. You are wandering away, down broken paths. *her optics plead. Don't be lost, don't..*
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"Don't fret, priestess, I'm here," he assures her gently. "There's no one in my head but me. I'm just trying to protect us from Galvatron. He won't find us out here. No one will find us without me knowing they're coming."
This evidently pleases Jetstorm, as does merely listening to the sound of her voice. Even being near her is comforting in a way, like the hum of the Cocytus's engines while he slept.
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*She studies his face pensively, though not approaching the intensity with which he seems to be scrutinizing her* Please, be careful of your thinking, Jetstorm. There are times you seem to forget that you are free. There was death in your thoughts only a moment ago... outside forces can tip your mind in a dark direction, as Galvatron's power has done; but you can learn to be aware of it, and be prepared.
As for me... *again she pulls on one of his hands, trying to take it in her own, away from her face, and ease this trapped feeling, held under his piercing gaze as she is* I am not your only light, Jetstorm. You carry Primus in your spark, and he hears you, if you speak to him. Please don't think I am your redemption... though I will do all I can to keep you from the dark, when I am here. It is when I am not, that you must learn to rely on him, and not on me.
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She is soft, malleable. He doesn't think she quite understands how intelligent he is under the destructive tendencies. But not everyone realized how intelligent Silverbolt was, either.
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*It's not a question of intelligence, but of spiritual sensitivity. She has learned to assume nothing of anyone's perception... too often has she been unpleasantly surprised, and too late. Sometimes it seems to insult their intelligence, but it is better to be safe.*
I only warn you, because I've had experience in the past with a few of my charges becoming too dependent on me, and not enough on Primus himself. But I suppose you do have experience with... servants of gods. *not that she's very happy about comparing herself to a servant of Unicron... but the parallel is applicable*
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"I am a servant of a god, priestess." His thumbs slide back across her face until they rest against the sides of his index fingers. "I know a few things about how they work."
His brothers are becoming less emotionally and mentally muted as he stands there, and they're extremely irritated by what they just went through. None of them has yet to speak, however.
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