((OOC: Warning! This post is very long.
Sorry. XD I will let you guys guess who the other voice is.
Just wanted to get a couple of things done before I can't do them anymore. Something tells me I won't if I wait. Well, going with my instincts here.
))
Whitegrazer was relieved that everyone was given a moment of reprieve from the events that had happened to them. She let out a very soft sigh nearly a whisper, letting out all the mental exhaustion she had to exert after the certain incident in front of the Axalon. Building barriers to keep away any unwelcome guests to creep into her was hard work. It never used to be, though, but she couldn't dwell over the old wounds that ached her spark. All she could do was do the best she could with what she had remaining, and it seemed to be working despite how small. Hiding the exhaustion was a bit tricky, though, as her cooling systems caused her to outwardly shift her shoulders down along with her arms and entire form to displace her state. But she fought the reflex and hissed at her body to keep the straight, attentive posture she always expressed. She will let go when she entered her room where no one could see her lowered defenses. She wondered if Optimus noticed it or not. How far was the connection? Was it at that stage? Keeping her thoughts on Optimus, her optics glanced at the path where Ironclaw had left. Like the others, she too had sensed something going on between Optimus and Ironclaw. Ironclaw, to her, gave off an irritation towards their leader. She ignored it as the conflict was between them two alone.
"I will be meditating in my room." She looked at Optimus with a reassuring smile and said softly, "I have alot to talk to you about, but I hope you can get some rest before we do."
Whitegrazer decided to give off alittle bow to anyone next to her, telling them in her way farewell as she retreated to her room like someone was pushing her-it seemed her master was being pushy again. Her room was the most ideal place for her now as she needed to meditate over certain developments especially what she was needed to tell Optimus. Also, to apologize for a few things.
As the door of her room opened and shut behind her, she laid against the door for a second, dipping her shoulders down and reached with her right hand towards the ground. Taking a few steps forward, she got down to sit indian style and giving a deep breath when she noticed an apparition close to her. The dark, towering shadowly figure stared at her with grumpy expression on his scarred hardened face. Deep irises of red orange shifted back and forth towards her and the door behind.
"We need to talk now," his voice was gruff with a tone of grave. This wasn't the old, grumpy attitude he always conveyed; this was his true tactical, articulate, pragmatic self talking to her , "You aren't going to push me away because things are not looking up in your favor."
"Master, speak what you wish for me to hear."
"First off, I'm telling you to cut all conversations with that Predacon immediately. I don't like him."
"Why?"
"Reasons seem obvious to me. He is the enemy and also, he has nearly tried or was in the process of sending you to your death."
"I know."
"He is a threat to you and your comrades. He has killed your friend. He lied to your face when you first got here, pretending to be a Maximal and leading you to either be reprogrammed or death. "
"Master, I can't be reprogrammed, remember? Also, remember that Starshadow was there too and she tried to kill me, but as you see, I have forgiven her just like Steelclaw."
"Wouldn't stop them from trying, and Starshadow is different. She is the crazy type, but predictable. Steelclaw is unpredictable. It is smart that you are having them in neutral terroritory, but what if Megatron finds out or the other Predacons? Do you think Steelclaw would do whatever he needs to cover his own aft to keep himself from getting killed by Megatron?"
Whitegrazer sighed, "Listen, Master, I understand what you are saying, but I will not stop my conversations with Steelclaw."
"He will get you killed, but okay, your funeral."
Whitegrazer let out a soft laugh, "Master, it was you that told me to not fear death's door but knock on it."
"Eventually, Death answers, Whitegrazer so quit it."
"No."
"Grrr, sometimes, I think you have a death wish. Just be careful and remember to watch yourself even if the Predacon seems noble."
Whitegrazer just smirked at her master, jokingly, "Is there anything else?"
"Yes, him."
"I didn't expect him here, but I should hav-"
"Known? You let yourself open."
There was a chill down her back as another shadowly figure appeared. Huge crimson eyes stared at her coldly stamped on a face slightly resembling a sketelon shape with chaotic drips of black, purple, and red colors swirling around the figure who stood intimidating at her master and her.
"It's been awhile. You haven't changed abit, Whitegrazer. That's what you call yourself now, isn't it?"
"Fits me, doesn't it?"
Her master was growling at the figure, but he didn't intervene as this conversation was between her and him.
"Yes, it's a very peaceful name."
"Why, thank you."
"It also symbolizes your weakness."
"What you call weakness, I call strength. You never could understand the idea of one stepping away from conflict or compromise, did you, brother?"
"You have become softier. Have you forgotten all the death, chaos, and destruction that carves our scars? Our hopelessness and despair that crawls deep within our souls at those darkest hours where sparks beat, calling for home when it never came?"
"Every soldier has scars, my brother." Whitegrazer placed her hand over where her spark laid, "We use these scars, not to cast blame or vengeance, but to create hope for a better future."
"Still hanging on to that sentiment? I expected no less from you."
"Yes, and I must I was not too happy of your surprise introduction."
"Had to grab your attention. I was hoping for more of a fight, but it seems you let your guard down. Your powers weakened even worse than I thought."
Whitegrazer gave him a stern look, "Thanks for that. I see you are still opportunistic and manipulative."
"It's my nature."
"No, that's an excuse. You chose to be what you are as I chose myself. We both took a different path. I chose a more peaceful route than you have. I'm not letting my pain control me."
"Are you judging me?"
She stared at him, seeing his wide optics searching for something within.
"No, just stating facts. I know you too well and I know that you came here for what I have in my possession, but that is not yours."
"Give it to me."
"No."
"You will give it to me. I won't ask again."
"You heard her, fiend. She said no." Her master got into the conversation but the other presence just gave him a glance before staring back at her.
"I see the old fool still lingers. Fine, we will do this the hard way."
Whitegrazer felt pain in her spark like a hand gripping it, squeezing it to see the contents which laid within.
"I can't see it. Where is it?"
Whitegrazer had a soft smile as she raised her hand, "You won't find it."
"Interesting...I sense connections."
Whitegrazer realized what he tried to do and quickly knocked him off, relieving the pain. As he tried once again to grab her spark, his hand was jolted back from a block.
"I sensed your connections, bonds to individuals. There was a particularly strong one slowly growing. Doesn't matter. Making oneself open to others is dangerous as it leaves vulnerability. Bonds are useless."
"Without bonds, one would desensitize."
"I will use that against you."
"You will try, old comrade."
He attacked her with brute force which caused a crack in her armor that opened wide, showing her spark. One of her optics shattered into two.
She shook her head at his tactics, ignoring the wounds he placed on her, "You broke the sacred rule, but you never let rules get in the way of your decisons, did you? You never loved them."
"Why keep following something which keeps me from what I must do?"
She covered her spark from his view, "It is what separates us from our enemies."
Just before he tried another assualt on her person, a white beam from her spark clashed upon the shadow, making it flicker and it grunted.
"I see that this was a waste of time, but I'm coming and let's see if your skills are still exceptional as I remember or has that weakened too."
Fading from her sight, she bend down to let her head rest on the metal floor.
"You should have killed him back on that asteriod."
"I don't regret my decision, mast-TC. I did the right thing even if you and him believe otherwise."
"I know, but I fear he is playing for keeps now. He won't hesitate to kill you especially if he wants that data from you."
"He will not get it. I promise." She nodded at her master who looked at her approvingly.
Despite their different views, her master always loved her loyal determination and her unwavering belief in her decisions, not looking back with regret, but looking forward and using that experience, that pain to fuel her will to complete her purpose.
Lifting her head from the floor, she saw her master was gone and looked at herself. There was a crack on her chest plate and she made a face when her right optic glass was gone.
"How am I going to explain this?"
Well, she could say she was just clumsy and fell. Oh boy. No, Optimus will see through it. The others...they might, no, that won't work.
It looks like someone is really determined for me to expose me today. Whatever it is, it needs to stop. I already said I was going to explain it to Optimus. Ha ha.
Deciding to let it go, she returned to her meditations after she glanced at the holocron, a memento that held her memories and the dark secret her old comrade wanted so badly. She wondered how he knew about it. Heck, she forgot she had it, but that was on purpose. That made her realize that he was saving something important until later. Who wanted it? Well, anyone would want it if they knew about it, but not that many did even the governments. Maybe they did find out?
She will focus on that later. Now wasn't the time. It was time to rest and collect her thoughts. She dimmed her optics, clearing her mind and shut off for a bit until called.
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((OOC: Is it okay for Blackarachnia to step out now? If it isn't, I will delete this post. =) ))
Blackarachnia took out the laser coil and stepped out for Tarantulas and Arachnitron to see her, walking casually, "I got it. Sorry it took so long."
She gave Tarantulas a glare, "Someone loves to booby trap their stuff." Then she smirked, "Oh well, enjoy the mess I left you. Sorry, if you find a few of your slave spiders nonfunctional."
Letting out a chuckle, she glanced at Arachnitron, "Well, we have wasted lots of time. We better start installing this and get it rolling." She was about to get in when she smirked at Tarantulas, "Be a gentlemen and help me." She noticed the leash on him was gone, "Looks like I have to make a new one." She winked at Arachnitron.
Acting like she knew nothing of what she saw, she wanted to see how Arachnitron reacts.