(( OOC: Big Convoy, I agree with everyone else on your question. After all, Waspy is your character now, so you may decide his fate.
Good to see you around, Venatrix!
All right, guys, fair warning here. We're wrapping this season up very shortly!
))
"I did what the ape wanted. His fault for being suicidal."
"He ain't suicidal!" Rattrap protested at Blackarachnia with a glare, obviously offended by what she said. What a lame lie. She did something to that pod!
"Too late! Goodbye Optimus, tehehehehehahahaha!"
((OOC: I'm assuming they could see this temporary transformation with Tarry because Tigatron seemed to notice it in the show. If everyone disagrees, then I'll just delete this bit.
)) Both Tigatron and Rattrap looked at the black widow in the tiger's grasp with surprise and confusion. Did her black, abyss-like eyes just glow green?! And did her voice sound like Tarantulas?! What the heck was going on here?! The Spy was so close to whipping out his gun and shooting her... or him... point blank at her head. But he knew Optimus wouldn't have allowed that. There had been enough bloodshed in this war already. Then again, because of her... or him... they were about to lose another life and there was nothing they could do about it. He couldn't even imagine what it must have been like up there right now, alone in that pod, and facing certain death.
Optimus..., he thought sadly, watching the image.
-----
"Don't waste your energy. There is only one way your predicament could possibly end and we both know it." "And why not?,"
Primal wanted to tell Megatron to shut up, he wanted to scream at him, but he decided not to give him the satisfaction. However, there was something he wanted to give him to think about. Just as much as the Optimuses loved sacrficing themselves, as he so arrogantly put it, wasn't he taking into consideration that they also often came back? By some crazy miracle, could Optimus return and show how useless and meaningless Megatron's evil was? And show how much he failed at killing someone in such a cowardly way? Oh, how he could rub that in his face. But the truth was, Optimus didn't think there was any way even the great Optimus Prime could survive this or come back from the dead after such an explosion it would be. And if
he couldn't, there was no hope for Primal to pull off such a miraculous maneuver. No, he was finished. Megatron was right. But he certainly wished he wouldn't have been the last person he spoke to or was forced to listen to. Of all the others, it had to be Megatron? Here? Gloating and carrying on like some crazed dictator? Facing death without his enemy in front of his face wasn't torture enough?
His attention span with Megatron began to fade in and out as his crimson optics shifted to his Maximals' faces again, and the little pod continued to shake and rattle as it approached even closer to the alien weapon.
Dinobot. What an incredible and intelligent soldier he was. There was always greatness in him that Optimus saw. Honor, dignity, mercy. Whatever had really made him switch allegiances from Predacon to Maximal, he may never know, but it was a privilege to have him on his team. He learned a lot from him and admired his wisdom in battle. Although his and Rattrap's bickering never ceased to get on his nerves at the worst possible times, the Maximal leader was certain it was all for show by now. There was a hidden friendship or a disguise behind all of the sarcasm and name-calling, although neither of them would ever admit it. For someone as inexperienced in war as Optimus, Dinobot was exactly what he needed when it came to the tougher battles. Although he didn't always have the right solutions or agree with Primal, they were always able to find a common ground in the end. The Commander had nothing but the utmost respect for the warrior.
Ironclaw. Often he and the ape bumped heads together but the badger always had the best intentions. It was actually good for Optimus to have someone who disagreed with him and shared their honest opinion. Sometimes it made him second-guess himself, but it also provided a broader perspective for him. Ironclaw always stood up for what he believed in and that was a trait to admire. It gave Ironclaw strength and courage. And he cared for his friends and allies.
Rhinox, Primal's oldest friend among his crew. He was so grateful to have him by his side during this entire war. His infinite wisdom and peaceful personality proved useful countless times in so many hectic scenarios. He was the gentle giant. The only other scientist on board that was aware of the leader's darkest secret only because of his own involvement with its creation. How were they ever going to handle him without Optimus? Hopefully he will never be a problem because if he was ever found and activated, who knew how much destruction he would inflict upon the planet and all who occupied it. Rhinox knew Optimus best, more than anyone else who had been on the
Axalon, and so he was the young leader's role model, always seeking his guidance and admiring his varied intelligence, learning from his teacher. The one who dabbled in horticulture was also a great second-in-command officer, and his best of friends.
"Perhaps I could benefit from keeping you alive as a bargaining chip to keep the Maximals from interfering with my future plans."
Yeah right, thought Primal, temporarily distracted by the tyrant's voice. Was that supposed to be a joke? There was no way Megatron was going to pass up this opportunity. He knew this. The t-rex was just toying with him now, and it was despicable.
"Suffer! Suffer! Suffer! Suffer!"
Manterror's voice was muffled more than Megatron's was as his video shorted and skipped here and there due to the signal's strength and the energy beam that was surrounding the Maximal in his lonely ship. He simply ignored the mantis's obvious eagerness toward his impending doom and lack of care for life.
Rattrap. What a card! Life stranded on this world would have been a
lot more boring without him. Though his sense of humor and sarcasm was twisted at times, he always managed to find the funny side of the worst scenarios. And disagreeing with him at almost every turn often drove Optimus crazy but he appreciated his knowledge and experience. His marksmanship couldn't be matched, nor his wits, although Aurora seemed to enjoy their "battles." The rodent's loyalty was unquestionable, which was probably why he found it so difficult to trust anyone like Dinobot who betrayed their allegiance. And even though he had a difficult time showing it, he truly cared for his comrades. Rattrap was definitely one of a kind, and despite all of the debates, rudeness, disobedience and jokes, Primal was glad to have him.
There were also those he had lost under his command who couldn't be in this slideshow that Aurora had given him. Nightmist unfortunately wasn't with them very long on this planet. Optimus was probably the only one who knew her best, and her death was a huge blow to his own confidence in his leadership; his first to experience. She was so smart and kind but also quiet and reserved. Why she ventured out on her own so much, which inevitably made her demise, he would never be able to figure out, but if not for her death and Nemesis' involvement, they wouldn't have Aurora right now whom he treasured. As much as her death pained him, it also made him stronger.
But as if her loss wasn't enough, there was also Icebreaker. The penguin was very skilled, friendly, and quite the opportunist. He was also Orcariner's closest friend and Aurora's "maker," so to speak. Her father, or father-figure. Without him, Aurora likely wouldn't exist. He would always be grateful for that. Unfortunately, as close as they were to Icebreaker, it made it all much difficult to cope with his unexpected death. Accident by Steelclaw or not, he was gone, and it took a huge toll on both the ermine and the orca. Optimus knew they'd find the truth out sooner or later, but he hoped by delaying it, they would be able to find peace and forgiveness before they'd allow the notion of revenge to consume them. Well, that was all out of his hands now.
Valkyrie's loss so close to Icebreaker's nearly broke Primal. The anguish and anger practically drove him off the edge, but luckily he had Rhinox to keep him at bay and support him. Valkyrie was another second-in-command candidate. Very intelligent and optimistic, he didn't think she was much different from himself. But something was changing her, and he never did find out what that was. Obviously something serious because it drove her to seek out Nemesis, for whatever reason, and lead to her death. Did Nemesis do it on purpose to succeed in her escape? It was a difficult verdict judging by the surveilance vidoes that had no sound. But the blame couldn't all be put on her, after all, it was Valkyrie who sought her and opened her cell, and it was not Aurora's fault for accidentally changing the temperature. All of these things happened for a reason. It was not the former Decepticon's fault for what she was. Like a lot of things, that was out of her control. The Maximal leader understood her background all too well. Nonetheless, had Optimus been there like he should have been, maybe Val's death could have been prevented. Maybe.
Silverstreak was too new for Optimus to give a lot of thought to. First impression, she seemed sweet, positive and upbeat. They were fortunate to acquire her before the Predacons did. He wished he could have gotten to know her longer and better.
"Or I could simply leave you to suffer for the last few moments of your miserable existence, knowing that your beloved Maximals will not have time to grieve for you before they find themselves facing oblivion as well."
Is he still talking? Optimus wondered when Megatron's voice broke in again, his optics slowly moving back to his face on the hatch's window.
Just let me die in peace, the leader sighed to himself.
"You don't know how wrong you are about that, Megatron," he finally spoke. Primal's voice was a little shaky, not from his foe's words, but from fear of facing his own death so soon, his spark racing madly, his fist aching, his sadness for his Maximals. Not much time left now.
"You just might live to regret this." It was not a threat because what could he possibly do about it? Nothing. It was more of a warning, not that he would heed it at all because he was so arrogant and egotistical. If you believed in it, there was such a thing called karma. What goes around comes around. Megatron didn't think he was invincible, did he? By the way, who would stop the Vok next time? Optimus seemed to be the most successful at it. Megatron was a fool for condemning him.
"Optimus..." "Optimus..."
He didn't respond to Whitegrazer beyond what she could already feel from him. Panic, terror, grief, helplessness... But there was also love, compassion, remorse, and a sense of fullness as if this was what he had been meant for all along. Such a chaotic combination.
(( OOC: All right, Phoenix, let's wrap this up.
I'll finish the rest after you. My next post will be the last for the season, guys!
))
, Waspy may want to go transmetal as well to avoid being picked on by the needlenosed braggart 
And a blast seeing Terry and Waspy in action too! Also great show with Scorpy, although now I feel saddened he is the only one who is going to meet his grave in the lava pits below.)