Stargazers(Ghost/Open)

[Asterial]

March 2nd, 2025 10:00 PM, Somewhere in the West

It was a large cliff that Asterial was parked on in her car form. The night was clear and the stars were splashed across the darkened sky. The moon shining upon the earth to allow for but shadows but no darkness. It was not a pitch black night, and she was happy about that. She was alone here, and in her solitude. It was something she loved but hated at the same time. Asterial transformed and moved closer to the edge of the cliff. She then shifted, lowering herself into a sitting position and letting her legs hang over the side as her blue optics lifted up to gaze at the stars above. She wondered just how many were distant planets, and how many were simply balls of gas. She wondered if one of them was even Cybertron, her old home that had been stripped of it's former glory.

A pain twisted her spark as she thought of it. Her mother, father, and sister were buried back on Cybertron and here she was, probably many, many, many light years away from them all. Immediately, she began to try to dismiss her thoughts as she looked around her, taking in the beauty of the planet itself. Soon, it too could be stripped of it's glory, just like Cybertron. It was why she still fought against the Decepticons. It was why she still believed in the Autobot cause. She knew, or assumed, it was why the other Autobots did as well. Aster knew she did not want to see this place fall any more than the others did and she would lay down her spark if it meant that this planet and all of its inhabitants would survive.

[Ghost]

Ghost had little of the serious concern on her mind that the other bot did. Most of her concern was where her new 'owner' was going to take her, and where she'd find some energon. She'd have to trust the guy to be able to drive well, because she was having to go into a kind of sleep most of the time, and scan for energon while he was resting. Tonight, though, she'd found a nice little cliff, from which she could relax. At least, until an Autobot had come along, at which point Ghost's reflex reaction was her twin's - she immediately turned invisible, and she immediately regretted it.

The effort pulled a strain on her spark, drawing from a broken section, a bond that had ceased to exist a long time ago, her other half having been destroyed - by the Autobots. She couldn't sit like this for long, and couldn't bring herself to move while she sat here. In fact, despite all the suffering she was used to on a daily basis, she simply didn't have the energy to hold it up, and it dropped with a short stifled cry of pain from her, her black form having been sitting down on the edge of the drop, and almost immediately backing off, almost immediately transforming to take off. Her owner would be wondering where she'd walked off too. His car had to take a walk, but he did expect it back at a reasonable time. Yes, leaving, now, was probably a good idea.

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[Asterial]

There was suddenly a cry that broke Asterial out of her thoughts. With a gasp she looked over to the source, a little startled by the sudden noise, and noticed the other Cybertronian beginning to back away. Perhaps the two had startled each other? It seemed this one was about to leave, but why? At first Aster wanted to say nothing and just watch her go, but suddenly opened her mouth to talk, "Wait, you don't have to leave if you don't want to." She said to the stranger, "I could leave instead if that would make you feel better." She offered in a small, timid voice. Really, she was feeling uncomfortable around this stranger, but she was uncomfortable around any stranger. In fact, she was often uncomfortable around her own allies back at the base. She hardly spoke to them at all, unless it was important and even then she would just say what was needed and fall silent again.

[Moonlight]

Moonlight was also out and about since her rejoining with the Autobots as a medic and warrior, preferring to be on the move and helping in a pinch if someone needed help away from base. She liked to get out and explore her new home anyway, as it'd only been a few days since she landed. Now she found herself coincidentally running into some possibly friendly strangers on the nice view she had driven past not a few moments before.

Dimming her accent lights to avoid alerting them, Moonlight's vehicular form with the holoform activated inside rolled up quietly, keeping a very safe distance from the two. She studied them, hesitating on speaking up. It looked like something was wrong, and she didn't want to make a sudden approach that would startle them again. She just wanted to investigate the area - she didn't have any intention on being here long if there was going to be tension.

((Iri and I had talked about Asterial meeting Moonlight so hope you don't mind me joining this, just makes it a little easier to avoid making another thread.))

[Ghost]

((Sorry I've been so slow with Ghost - poor girl gets me all depressed. Love 'er, but it's not the best character for bad mood days - and there have been a lot of those lately.))

Ghost continued to roll back in her alt mode, still a little bit freaked out. "Um... No, Caboose is waiting for me, I should go, really..." The way her form shuddered slightly as she moved, though, it was obvious that she was in pain - though what was less obvious was the extent of the pain. Ghost had grown very accustomed, unfortunately, to her sister's pain; unfortunately, she had just directly provoked it, and the screaming pain of the everlasting echoes of her sister's death hit her energy-deprived form hard and harsh, and was magnified by her rising panic. She really did not like running into others, and she didn't like feeling like she was pushing them back - but at the same time, she probably wouldn't make it far before having to lie low for a while to recuperate.

She didn't really notice the other femme who had approached from a distance - she only knew that she really didn't want to deal with the first. Neutrals were okay, if only because they too had little to do with the war. However, Autobots, Decepticons... They brought in memories that made the pain worse, that made it harder to go on. Reflexively, she pulled on that shred of her sister's spark that rested inside her own, pulled on it for comfort, finding only the empty void behind it. The youngling was suffering, but still, she pulled forward, beginning to head off. She'd survive; she had so far.

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[Asterial]

Asterial crouched down to try to look smaller and less threatening to the young one. The Autobot femme tilted her head to the side slightly, "Caboose? If you really wish to leave, then I will not stop you." She said, but did not want this child to go off alone. She would follow her from a distance if she had to, just to make sure she arrived back to her 'guardian' safely. Decepticons would love to scoop this kid up and whisk her off to try to train her to become one of their soldiers, or kill her if she refused. This little one did not deserve that. No child deserved that. Asterial would not let it happen on her watch. "At least let me accompany you there to make sure you get there safely. I can't just let a young child go off on their own." She suggested, "No tricks, I promise."

[Moonlight]

The fairly well hidden femme transformed as quietly as she could. Moonlight's receptor's perked as she heard the name Caboose, wondering what kind of strange name that was for a Cybertronian. Regardless of her confusion, she made herself visible, approaching slowly. Her accent lights that were tattooed all over her figure glowed a faint but noticeable white glow."Is everything okay? I heard a cry. I'm a medic-on-call. I was concerned..." she announced herself with a soft voice, hoping she wouldn't startle them too much. Her signal was obviously Autobot and she clearly chose to not hide it. "I mean no harm and I apologize if my sudden presence alarmed you."

[Ghost]

Ghost was now panicking - in pain, and panicking. She started to pull forward, to flee, but just couldn't seem to do it, the pain over riding what thought processes she had left, leaving her shaking, whimpering in front of these two Autobot femmes. "I have to... To get back. I said I'd be back before eleven..." Her voice came out choked, a bit squeaky in panic, obviously frightened despite the femmes' friendly intentions. She didn't want to die, not like her sister. For all their good intentions and friendly words, she owed her sister that much - to leave the Autobots be. Why did it have to be so difficult?

She tried to force herself to move forward, but couldn't bring herself to move; it was too much. She sunk down on her wheels, as though cowering slightly, unsure of where to go. So hard to keep going, to deal with the pain... She'd thought she was used to it, but now it only hurt that much more. The offer for help... She almost wanted to say yes, but she couldn't. Not after all the suffering she'd been through to avoid them. But... If they had energon... It was worth it, right...?

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[Asterial]

Asterial made her way towards the side of the young Autobot when she saw her sink down, "At least allow us to escort you back, please." She said before the other Autobot femme had approached. To Asterial's relief, it was another Autobot. At least it was not a Decepticon who decided to crash the party. Asterial looked back to Ghost, thinking there may be too many people here for her liking, actually, even one person there may be too much for her liking, but she did not know. She could not read anyone's mind. She then lifted her blue optics to face that of the newcomer, "I am not sure if she is injured, but I am not injured." She said, not sure what to do. She was only doing the best she could around the child. Wait, was the child injured? Then Asterial certainly could not escort Ghost anywhere until she was cared for!

[Moonlight]

When Moonlight noticed the timidness and innate fear in Ghost's voice and body language, Moonlight got a little curious and concerned, though she didn't show it. She promptly scanned her figure, the glow of the laser beams passing over the smaller Cybertronian briefly. She was indeed low on Energon. Moonlight always carried some on her in case someone was in need (preferably not her own self either). "She appears to be weak, low on Energon."

"Can I get your name? I usually take record of those I take care of, for management purposes and my own benefit. May I ask who Caboose is and why you have a curfew? Don't you live with the Autobots?" Since Moonlight was so new, she couldn't be sure that Ghost was a regular. Maybe she was lost and still trying to find her way there and didn't know who to call? That was unlikely...so that was one part of this situation that confused Moonlight, and she was certainly no rookie in her field.

"I promise I will not hurt you. We can escort you back to this 'Caboose' if you would like in order to ensure your safety and recovery, but first, I recommend you consume this Energon in order to sustain your energy. You may need more than this amount, as I have to be cautious with the rations I give to others until they are at the base where it is more accessible...Here." Moonlight spoke softly with a gentle smile, her accent lights pulsating slightly between a bright cyan and pure white color as she took a knee and handed a glowing Energon cube to Ghost.

(would have gotten this post up sooner but i lost it, and had to rewrite it >.<)