(( OOC: Thanks, una! Rest is the only thing I lack which is probably delaying my recovery but I feel much better now; just a little congestion in the nose, but a lot less snot. FINALLY.
Last week and the weekend was awful. Eeeew. XD
@ Blackrosefencer: If you want to give Inferno a shot, by all means, please do so! I write to myself with my characters all the time. Why is everyone so funny about doing that?
*cheers on Cheetor*
And sssneaky spiders are they, my Precioussss...
))
Optimus had closed his mouth plate when he had released his missile from above, and it was still closed after he had landed as all of the debris bounced off of him and the smoky cloud settled around the three.
As Nemesis was pushed away by the explosion, and the dirt and stones stopped falling, Rattrap quickly looked around to see if the coast was clear. However, seeing Primal standing there as the dust calmed, he couldn't help but wonder if this was his clone again. What if it was? They would be big in trouble, especially him with his tail still pinned. Even though he spotted the leader's scars, those details could have been mimicked. Because Optimus didn't speak, it started to freak him out inside.
"Well, Optimus, fancy seeing you here. It would seem you have a knack for escaping perilous situations,"
The Maximal leader remained silent, taking in the situation and watching Nemesis's movements closely. She was up to some-... As soon as she moved to slice her own hand, Primal took the opportunity to bend down and grab the sai that was holding Rattrap's tail, swiftly pulling it out of the ground. And as he did so, with his other hand he drew one of his swords, flipping the long weapon around in his hand so that the end with the sharp blade was facing away from his thumb, and almost as quickly as Nemesis had moved, Optimus had spun around toward her and stopped his attack just before his sword touched her neck under her chin. Just as she was about grab the rodent's leg, he held his blade unwavering to her and gripped her sai in his opposite hand, his optics narrowed as he realized what she wanted to do with her self-inflicted injury.
"I wouldn't try anything foolish," "Or we might end up with another incident.."
Opening the plate that protected his mouth, Primal said coldly in a deep tone,
"The only incident we should be concerned about is the Vok's intentions of descimating this place!"
Rattrap wiggled his tail once it was freed, relieved that this was in fact Optimus and not some imposter. Whatever the aliens had put him through, he seemed to be well enough for battle. Or he was just hiding the pain. Just as he was about to maximize, he saw Nemesis and Optimus move seemingly insync, only to find himself held hostage again. Taking a breath, uncertain as to what it would feel like if the former Decepticreep laid her nano-infested hand on him, Primal's words seemed to take priority when it came to fear.
"Optimus...?" he wondered without moving.
"They called it a termination sequence," the Maximal Commander explained with a growl in his voice.
"We don't have time for this!" he directed at Nemesis, dropping her sai within Rattrap's reach and immediately going to grab her wrist of the hand that was intending on grabbing Rattrap's leg as he lowered his sword from her neck but still gripped it tightly in his hand. He didn't have it in him to slice her throat open anyway, or decapitate her, and she would have called his bluff. All he wanted to do now was get Rattrap out of harm's way even if that meant taking his place, but hopefully the alien's threat would be enough for the Predacons to back down and make their own preparations for the planet's destruction. This was no joke. The alien structure continued to flash brightly, and it sounded like it was slowly beginning to charge up to do something. Time was running out, whatever was about to happen.
-----
The white tiger smiled warmly at Aurora, despite the pain he saw in her eyes, as she shifted aside and offered him a seat beside her. To make things a little more comfortable, he, too, maximized to his robot mode and sat down letting his feet dangle with hers over the edge.
"I can't sleep," "Too many memories occupying my mind. Too many.. mistakes having been made, some of which could not have had a worse outcome."
Tigatron studied Aurora with great concern and some confusion. Observing her facial expressions, and hearing her wavering voice, he concluded that she was in a lot of emotional pain and doubt and he pitied her. No one her age should feel that way. No one her age should be stuck in a war and losing such close friends. He knew what it was like but this was not about him. This was about her, and he could tell that she was suffering a great deal.
"Every life I've touched, every individual that gets close to me, get destroyed."
Watching her pick up the rock and toss it to the water, skipping across before it vanished, Tigatron shook his head lightly, disagreeing with her statement even though she sounded convinced.
"The others have had enough mishaps happen to them lately. Maybe if I just stay away, they'll fair better."
"Some do not believe in coincedences or mistakes," Tigatron said softly, looking at the young Maximal.
"What has happened was always meant to happen, therefore, no one is to blame for such tragedies; you least of all. Aurora, you are far too young to claim our friends' lost lives as your fault. These situations were out of your hands, just as much as they were out of mine and everyone else's. You can't burden yourself with this guilt that you don't deserve which is obviously effecting your functioning. The burden is Optimus's and his alone. Every one of us under his command is his responsilibity, and so he's capable of carrying the guilt for each of us on his shoulders so that we may move forward and continue functioning as a team to ensure our survival. All of us are suffering in our own ways, but Optimus needs us to stay strong and stay together because without us, he is lost. I see how much he cares for you, as if you were his daughter. I see how much everyone cares for you, Aurora. Not because they may or may not think you are fragile or too young, but because this team functions as a family and everyone needs to support one another. Everyone has a purpose." Pausing, Tigatron wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled the Fuzor toward him, squeezing her lightly for a brief time before letting her go.
"Unfortunately, war does have its casualities, and I'm truly sorry that you were brought into one at an age when your curious mind should be studying and exploring instead of battling and risking your life and watching friends fall. But we must persevere. After all, this war will end. Only then can we let our guard down. Aurora, your spirit is far too beautiful and wonderous to fall into the deep depths of grief and guilt. Let your mind focus on the greater memories, and let them fuel your ambitions and perseverance."