1067/Optimus Pursues Optimal Function

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
The doors to the training simulators slide open, revealing Prime in the entranceway. He steps inside and takes a moment to look around, seeing if anyone is in the area. Noting the place appears to be empty, he walks towards one of the terminals and enters in a few commands. ".. Despite taking down that Blast Off easily enough.. he was worn out from fighting Prowl.. let's set it up a notch.." He keys in a few commands, enhancing the difficulty of the Training Drone to a Higher setting, as it materializes in the center of the room.

     Optimus turns and moves to an appropriate distance, before his battleplate slides down over his face. ".. let's see.." He holds his hand out, causing his energon axe to pull from subspace; a weapon he doesn't use too often due to the power it already held, but things could always be made to perform better.

     After a brief moment of consideration, Prime bends at the actuators of his knees, and lunges towards the training drone, bringing his energon axe down in a clean swipe across the chest of the Drone.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    The energon axe cuts cleanly through the training drone, leaving a massive simulated slash across its chestplate, penetrating deep into the circuitry. "Mmh.. too much strength put into the attack. Won't exploit weaknesses like that." He steps back, lifting his wrist up and tapping at something as a soft light flickers over him, replenishing the energon used in the attack.

     He takes a few steps back, setting the energon axe back into subspace for the moment, before simulating the effects of cracking his knuckles, as the metal creaks and bends. "Let's start off the old fashioned way, then.." He then rushes towards the drone, clenching his fists as the drone tracked his movements in the advance. He nears the drone, ducks under the outstretched attempt at a punch, and then drives his own fist towards the mid-plating of the drone.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would make her way to the training simulators, and as per-normal, there is no signal indicating if the simulation suit was in use or not, so when the door slid open... Oh boy. Her finials drooped and shuttered her optics. She had walked in on Sky Lynx's training sessions so many times, she was used to being allowed to stick around and watch, if not train with Lynx, however this? This was... Definitely spiking her own anxiety, and she went to turn around attempt to leave before she was noticed.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    After landing his blow, even fists causing simulated fractures in the mid-plate armoring of the Drone, he vents a dejected sigh. Optical sensors pick up Starlock entering the area, before he turns slightly and extends one of his legs, aiming it directly for the facial plating of the Drone. Even as he trained, his voice was heard. "There is no reason you have to depart, Sergeant."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Mother-Fragger she's been spotted, and she stops, and freezes midstep. Her battle mask slipping into place to hide the embarrassed look on her face, before taking a deep vent and turning around. "A-Ah.. If you're sure..." She'd fidget, starting to move her way back into the holosuite, and moved over to the bench on the sideline, watching, it was clear she'd not interrupted anything, so she didn't have to apologize for that.

      She was being oddly, observant, watching how he was engaging the drone and tilted her head.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    The momentum of the kick sends his other leg off the ground, lunging through the air slightly as his pedes land with a loud slamming noise. "Yes, I am sure." Simple words, as he turned back and extended his arms out, charging the drone and bending at his mid-plating, wrapping his arms around the drone and charging it backwards, slamming it into the barrier coating the side wall. "I might even give you ideas for your own training, Starlock."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock was clearly the observant type, didn't talk much, but listined, and watched. "Maybe.. I do have some ideas." She'd mention, she'd been in her head for a while now since being promoted on what she could do, to be more useful to her units when out and about with them, and not on typical medical duty.

      "...Sort of, realizing I'm not too helpful in combat, outside of medical duty, all things considered." He'd mumble to herself.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Slamming the drone into the barrier, a small spark of metal crossing simulated metal is seen, as a scrap appears on Prime's shoulder. He releases the drone, and brings his right arm up, opening his hand as he pulls the energon axe from subspace once more, in an uppercut sort of motion, intending to tear the energon axe upwards across the chestplate of the drone as his body turns in the motion, coming to take two steps back as he regards the simulated drone.

     "Everyone has a purpose in combat, Starlock. Medical is vital to continue operational status for our forces in the fight against the Decepticons." He looks over to the femme-bot, blue optics looking upon her from beyond his battleplate. "Do not devalue your own worth."

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid comes in, mostly to watch. Hes very quiet in the background, watching how Prime and Starlock fight. For soem reason he's just..not joining in today. Normally he would at least try to rpractice. Not today. "You two continue. I'll be here taking notes."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded, still there were times where she had to step out of that role, while someone else like First Aid, Healthpoint, or Ratchet where on scene... She was good at aiming, even if her own shots where pretty weak, aso perhaps..

      "I try not to, its.. Something I try hard to remember, given the medical aid I've provided has allowed those I was with to survive a few encounters that otherwise, would of ended poorly." And by that, she meant the two times she'd been with her units when they came face to face with Megatron himself, and If there was any wake up call to indicate that what you did was important? Yeah that was probably up there on the list.

      She'd shake her head out of her thoughts as she looked over to First Aid, when did he get in here?! "Oh.. Hey there Aid."

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid nods "Oh, Hi Starlock." He says with a wave. "You guys doing some training? Don't let me interrupt." he says as he watches. "I dont fight much anymore."

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Keeping his optics resting on the femme, the drone managed to graze him with a small laser blast. Optics shifted back, tucking the energon axe back into subspace, before pulling out his ion blaster and lining up a shot, pulling the trigger and unleashing a shot. Not even waiting to see if it connect, he looks over to First Aid, offering a small nod. "I am training.. she is simply watching." He then looks back to Starlock.

     "Whether innate talent rests within or not in regards to combat, taking initiative in stepping out of the comfort of what you're used to, is also an invaluable trait."

**Hound has posed:**
Not long after First Aid shows up, so Hound, too, makes an appearance, stepping inside the training room looking for his old friend, Optimus Prime. He scoots in next to Aid, "Hey there, how's it going?" Then turns his attention to the other two Autobots. "It's good to see you again, Prime," he says warmly, waving a hand to him and to Starlock in greeting, then settling in to watch.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid nods "Me too, I guess." he says, sitting down to watch. "It'll be good to watch ftoo." He looks to Hound and gives a smile under his mask which brightens up his blue optic band. "Oh, hello there, Hound."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock had her battle mask in place, and had glanced back to Optimus when he started speaking to her again, and she'd glance down and nodded, and looked back to First aid, walking over to him. "...Alright there?" She'd would ask openly to First aid, before nodding to Hound.

      She would sit down beside First Aid, and looked back out to Optimus on the field, looking to try and figure out what he was attempting, she'd also squint at his next sentence, which was was unsure how to take?

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Upon hearing Hound, the Prime turns his optics towards the mech, before glancing back to the training Drone as it collapses. A vented sigh escapes him as he dismisses the energon axe back to subspace. He walks over towards the control panel, tapping a few commands as he resets the sequence, before increasing the overall difficulty of the encounter. He then steps back out onto the simulated field, finally setting optics back on Hound. "Good to see you as well, Hound. I trust you've been well?"

     Optimus then looks back to the drone, and rotates his shoulders for a moment as he considers his next action. Basic pistol attack? Too simple. He wanted to expose additional weaknesses with his axe, but as it stood right now, it required too much energon to power, which is why he doesn't use it too often. Decisions, decisions..

**Hound has posed:**
"I have, Prime," Hound answers as he leans against a wall to watch. "I trust you've had a productive trip?" He quiets down, not wanting to distract the Autobot leader during his training session.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would wait to speak as Hound and Optimus talked, still deep in her thoughts, once she saw an opening she'd speak up. "What are..you attempting to do? If it's okay to ask." She'd say rather quickly, glancing down with drooping finials as she was little embarrassed from her own creeping anxiety that was blaring in her head about how rude that was! She was still though, keeping an audial on First Aid, who was acting off of late.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optimus rested optics on the drone for a moment, before shaking his head slightly as he considered. "Negative, Hound. My mission was to try and find an extra supply of energon.. however, it wasn't only a failed mission, but my ship was attacked. It's currently undergoing repairs." He then looks over towards Starlock, studying her reaction as she asked the question.

     "Nothing wrong with curiosity, Sergeant. I'm trying to increase the efficacy of my energon axe. It's already capable of tearing through armor, but I'm trying to increase its ability to further decrease enemy functions in various ways." He reaches into subspace, producing said energon axe as he holds it up for her to see. "Complications exist, however.. it requires a considerable amount of energon as is for its functions when I use it."

**Hound has posed:**
The scout's expression turns serious as Prime answers. "Cons?" Hound asks, folding his arms with a sigh. "Sorry to hear it, Prime. In this day and age, every drop counts." He looks at Starlock. "And how are \*you\* these days, Starlock?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock listined, and nodded, before removing one of her Star Striker blade hilts from her belt and pointed at it. "Like my Energon Dual blades here?" She'd ask, before flinching and Her face lighting up energon pink under her mask as Hound asks. "...Better." She'd nod, glancing to Hound and then to First Aid.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid watches Optimus, almost thoughtfully. "Well , maybe if it could be rerouted, it could use less energy." He focuses on the task of trying to figure out how to make Optimus's weapon work efficiently, instead of normal daily conversation. Hi shands fold over themsleves, and refold again, the normally steady medic is fidgeting.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optimus shakes his head at Hound's inquiry. "No.. something else. Nothing to worry much about." He then shifts attention over to Starlock, nodding just slightly. "Indeed, like those." He then shifts his attention to FIrst Aid and studies the mech carefully.

     "Interesting suggestion, First Aid. And how would you recommend such rerouting? I admit, I'm not too advanced on recalibrations.. I focus on dismantling." At this point, he lunges towards the drone once more, bringing the energon axe down on the training drone once more.

**Hound has posed:**
"Good," Hound smiles over at Starlock, then nods to Optimus. The scout then glances to First Aid like he's about to say something, but then he waits to let the medic answer Op's question.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid pauses. "I'd have to do a few tests before I have anything concrete, work with your body type and energy usage. But I should have something sooner or later."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would glance to Hound, and then First aid, and then back to Hound, First Aid definitely needed to be talked to, something.. He was not acting like himself, but for now, she was getting that, right now wasn't the time, and looked to Optimus and the Drone. "...If I may, I.. Can show you how I go about it." She didn't want to admit it, but she caused problems by targeting specific wires, and weak points that her medical knowledge made her privy too.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    As the axe made another clear simulated slash across the drone, it managed to tink a laser of of the side of Prime's visor. A vented sigh as released, before he heard Starlock's offer. He considered her for a moment, before sending his axe back to subspace, and took a few steps back. His battleplate remained deployed, however. ".. just be mindful, I've set the difficulty to a more.. challenging approach."

     He then looks over to First Aid, studying him for a moment longer. ".. you're welcome to do such.. once your processors are more.. clear." Yes, Optimus had noted the oddities within First Aid as well. One of the perks? of his Matrix.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound settles back to let the people training continue to train, but as he looks over at First Aid, he goes ahead and asks what the others have been thinking. "And at the expense of sounding like a broken recording, how are you, First Aid? I'd already asked but I don't think you heard me. Everything alright?"

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid blinks. "Clear? Sir, Im fine. Just thinking about some things, that's all. Im one hundred percent capable of my job." he says, as he digs his hands into one another for a moment. "Um. If I may, may I be excused? I just um. have things to think about. To work on. I have stuff to ...deal with." He looks to the door, just waiting for permission. Normally hes eagerly trying to be the light in the room, overly optimistic. Now that peopel are asking him whats wrong, he seems afraid as if hes done something horrible.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded and opticed up the Drone, taking a moment to steady herself on a defensive stance. She glanced over to Aid though as he spoke, a worried frown on her face forming, and took a vent after a moment, and used some sudden speed from her pede boosters kicking on to lung right at the drone, quickly at that, watching it's movements, and going right for one of the wires that where exposed.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optimus rests his gaze on Starlock as she makes her attack, nodding as he observes the effects of her blade attack. He then looks towards First Aid once more as Hound inquires, listening to the mech answer. ".. Mmh." He vents a slight breath. "Permission granted." He states simple, before looking back to Starlock.

     "Overall damage ineffective, however.. rendering subsystems redundant and compromised.. sets things up for another 'Bot to capitalize." He nods his head slightly in appreciation at that.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound looks at First Aid, jaw dropping slightly at his response, though it comes back up quickly. "...Sorry, Aid, didn't mean to imply anything? I've got full confidence in you." He looks to the others, possibly sharing in a slightly worried expression, then back to Aid.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would quickly side swipe the drone and blitz away from the drone as quickly as possible. (Which was pretty fast) and got out of range of the drones attack, sliding half way back across the training arena floor as the purple light form her boosters went out as she watched the drone.

      Her optics trailed over to First Aid, there was a definitely something wrong... She was going to need to talk with him in private later, for sure. She'd glance back to Optimus and nodded. "I'm small so it's a bit easier for me to strike at exposed lines or wires that cause trauma that makes it hard for their systems to function... Just a matter of knowing where their located."

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid makes his way ot the door once given permission. "I'll be.. um around if you need me." Oddly hes not heading to medical. Hes heading back to the barracks for a while. Weird "Thanks, you. Its not your fault. I just gotta go for a bit ok?" with that he heads away. Who knows what got into him.

**Hound has posed:**
Hound hmmms, still watching First Aid as he walks off. He looks back to the other two and gives them a nod. "I... guess I should be on my way, as well." He smiles at Prime, "It's good to have you back. You've been missed. We could use your wisdom right about now." He then turns and exits the room.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock frowned as she watched them go, her optics trailing to the floor as she fell back into her thoughts. "I really need to speak with him later." She'd vent a sigh, clearly speaking in regards to First Aid. She'd glance up. "Rest well, both of you." She'd state to both Hound and First aid as she watched them go, her ridges knitting again.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optimus watches the two depart, and then turns his optical sensors towards Starlock. He studies the femme for a few moments. ".. you don't have to stay here, Starlock.. I'm sure it's not that entertaining." He nods just slightly, before walking towards the computer for the simulation.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Its true, she doesn't have to, but she stared at the door still, her one energon blade still active as she fought with thoughts in her head. Not saying something, has already caused a lot of trouble already, and she isn't exactly skilled enough to handle all of these things she has.

      "... Aid's taken a lot of mental and moral blows of late.. He's.. unfortunately learning a lot of what I know." She'd state cryptically, starting to move for the door.

**Optimus Prime has posed:**
    Optimus pauses at the terminal, tapping a few keys before disabling the training program as he battleplate slides back, revealin his facemask once more. He then turns to look towards Starlock in silent contemplation, before making his way towards the door now, himself. ".. everyone knows more than I do.. didn't think I was that difficult to approach.." He shakes his helm slightly, before easily moving passed the femme-bot, given the size differences between them. "Hope he sorts it out. Keep me updated." And with that, the Prime steps out of the training room.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "I've been waiting for Sky Lynx to speak with you, but..." She'd take a vent. "Starting to think maybe it's... Best I stop waiting on others." She'd nod to herself, extinguishing the the blade of her sword, before slipping the hilt onto her belt.

      "I don't think you are, just.. Others are afraid, because of how disillusioned, many have become, due to events." she'd nod. "I will." She'd made up her mind, She was going to need to talk to him sooner, rather than later..