(( OOC: Had a lot to cover here. I hope I didn't miss anything. I'm trying to push us into the direction of getting the rescue/exchange underway because I don't know about everyone else, but I'm anxious to get out of the base and kick some butt! Haha ))
"Doesn't it, though?"
No, Optimus thought. He felt a little cold now, a lot of his injuries throbbing, his entire body aching and begging for repairs.
"What do you see Cybertron as? Is it as peaceful as you thought it was or has your perception changed?"
What an odd inquiry to be asking him at this point of his demise. Blackarachnia couldn't have possibly cared what he thought of Cybertron. Was this a trick question? Or was she just making small talk in an attempt to keep him awake? It did make him ponder, however. Cybertron was his home as well as her's even if she didn't remember. ...At least it used to be. It had its beauty and its shadows. But with as much time as he had spent on Earth now with his fellow Maximals, he felt like this was his home. It was organic, breathtaking, and dangerous. He admired it and loved it. The different climates, the weather, the clean air, the inhabitants, the plant life. This was a scientist's dream come true; to investigate and explore the infamous blue planet untouched yet by humans. Shifting his memories back to Cybertron, Primal's home planet suddenly seemed a lot colder, darker, metallic, and electronic. Fighting, drunks, screaming in dark alleys, whispers, subtle negativity, oppression. His perception had indeed changed since he landed here. The first word he let slip painfully out of his busted mouth to answer the widow was,
"Corrupted." No, he wasn't blind to the dark politics and agendas that were ruining and rising behind the scenes as many might have presumed he was. Not anymore.
"What do you... imagine it... to be...?" he asked her.
"Enough energon to make sure you don't die on me." "Don't take that that the wrong way, Maximal."
The Maximal leader barely felt the tube's attachment to his arm, but the flow of the energon made him warmer inside. He didn't move or look at her, he laid there still and quiet.
"With a little energon, he would be stable enough."
He wanted to be. He wanted to speak to his Maximals again. Just one more time.
Optimus...
The beaten Commander felt Whitegrazer... at least he thought he did. He was wavering between reality and hallucinations. Perhaps the virus was creeping back up on him? Or was it just the fatigue and lack of energy? The energon Blackarachnia fed to him started to make the nanogel glow a little on his chest again, the tiny robots squirming and frittering. It seemed they were enjoying the energy just as much as he was but their activeness wouldn't last long.
I know I can be stubborn at times. And despite my experience and age, even I... am not immune to learning a lesson. Or two.
Honestly, he had no idea what the mare was talking about. He simply couldn't concentrate on their bond while he focused as much as he could on just staying awake. The visuals she sent were much easier; a flicker of her and him on the green meadow, absorbing the sunlight, the swaying grass, and the chirping birds. It calmed him, and he briefly forgot about his pain and torn body. Through that, however, he was certain he felt confusion and guilt from her. He didn't know why. From her past? Recent events? Both?
Try as they might, they can't and will never take you away from us.
No... But they have... taken all of you... from me, Optimus sent Whitegrazer. Had he meant it figuratively? It was hard to read the true meaning behind his words. There was still some lingering sorrow for Aurora despite knowing that she was going to be all right. Sorrow for her having to deal with such pain. He had no idea what it might to do her in the long run, especially having lost Icebreaker in a similar fashion. Primal was physically defeated, but his spirit remained strong for her and Whitegrazer and his entire crew. Megatron would never be able to break that. Never. ...Right?
He heard some noises and voices. A familiar voice. Nexus? Optimus slowly turned his head to see his mentor enter the brig once more. He was still alive! ...But had obviously withstood a similar torture treatment as he had.
"Monsters..," "Do what you will to me but leave Primal alone.."
Another tear rolled down his cheek from his functioning optic sensor. Not for what he said or because of the anguish and injuries that Nexus had sustained which were clearly substantial and Optimus could relate to, but because he finally saw a familiar face that he thought he might have lost. And physically, he wasn't alone in the brig anymore. It was a tremendous feeling for him. He wanted to reach for his teacher but he couldn't. His and Megatron's liquids - but mostly his own - were slowly drying and coagulating on him, underneath him in the pool of his lost energon, and the mess around his mouth and slashed lip.
-----
Before you said "get ready for combat" to all of us, Banshee and I headed out to do that until you popped out with new orders unless my audios are goin'. To be honest, I don't exactly know what "get ready for combat" means..
"What do ya mean you don't know what it means?! You-! It-! Wha-!" Rattrap stammered over his words in disbelief until he realized that Landslide wasn't technically a soldier or of military background. He sighed and calmed himself.
"It means lock an' load and be ready at my command ta move out."
As fer Rhinox.. I didn't even know he was even with Sonar since I was told earlier to avoid being around the infected so I stayed outside the Medical bay. If you wanted me to guard im' then you should of told me that earlier.
Rattrap gave the beetle a dismissive wave half through his explanation.
"I didn't mean you, exactly. Whoever was already around him, like, uh, Whitegrazer and Aurora, an' maybe Ironclaw since he was followin' everybody around like a lost puppy."
An Aurora.. I assume the lass went out to stop Grazer.. Then next thing we know Grazer is sittin out defenseless far from base an' the kid takes a fragment round to the gut. I flew in to lay cover and patched her up so she wouldn't bleed out before she could get treatment an' Grazer used that experimental stuff Aurora was showing off earlier on her..
THAT was the part he wanted to get to.
"Okay. All right. You did good, Landslide. You an' Cheetor, I saw you guys react and protect 'em. Now, what experimental stuff?"
"thanks again."
The Spy glanced at Banshee, disappointed with her simply coat-tailing Landslide's answers instead of explaining herself, although he imagined she'd tell him that she saw her comrades were in trouble and she's just decided to jump in and help them without any plan or back-up.
Primus, help us, he whined.
"Rattrap, what happened out there, I take full responsibility for, especially the circumstances surrounding Aurora's injuries. I wanted to help Nemesis. I wanted to face the shapeshifter. I had good intentions, but my intent led to one of own nearly paying the price. That is inexcusable. I also never meant to disrespect your command. By leaving, I was followed by those who wanted to protect me. As well as Aurora, who didn't want me to go. I was the one who caused these chain events. You are a fine leader, Rattrap, and by my actions, I not only have I put more on you, I hurt Optimus. And I'm sorry."
"Apologies don't mean slag ta me unless you learned your lesson," the TransMetal rat bluntly pointed out.
"I can't believe you'd do that, 'Grazer, just waltz on out dere, lay down a picnic blanket and meditate when you knew dere was trouble on the horizon and you were supposed ta be keepin' an eye on Nemesis and Darkwind! You didn't think nobody else would follow ya out dere?" Rattrap stopped his rant, obviously angry with the white equine but he realized that it wasn't going to change anything.
"This better not happen again," he told her, enforcing his eye contact with her. They were so lucky, so very lucky, that Aurora had survived. To know that she got hurt because Whitegrazer had gone out there and sat in the open, it infuriated him. The Fuzor was like a niece to him, and he'd do anything to protect her.
"Though, I don't know how this may help us, but I wanted to tell you that the shapeshifter... he may not just be here to join the Predacons in this war. I think he may be here for a purpose that is still undetermined. I have no doubt in my mind that it was he who shot Aurora. When he shot her, though, the other Predacons retreated. They could have taken the chance to kill me when I was vulnerable, but they did not. The actions of the shapeshifter... threw them off. Whatever purpose he is here to achieve, I believe he could just be using the Predacons as a means to an end. But with no more knowledge of him, that can be incorrect. The only thing I can be certain is that... I can see through his facade. He can't hide from me."
"Well, a lotta good that does us, Whitegrazer," Rattrap said sarcastically since it sounded like they still hadn't learned anything from Darkwind even after all they went through and Aurora getting shot. Then he paused and seemed to be thoughtful for a moment, recalling his conversation with Megatron who always chose his manipulative words wisely.
"Maybe... Maybe you were still the intended target but dey used Aurora. Maybe they have suspicions about you an' Optimus and dey were lookin' for proof. Did you 'tell' Optimus what happened?" Still, what did it matter? If they found out about their link, so what? Both Whitegrazer and Optimus were prepared for the possible consequences of their relationship and bond and would never allow it to be taken advantage of against the rest of the Maximals.
"I'll do it because he's a Maximal"
Rattrap watched Ironclaw closely as he loomed over Aurora's body while Rhinox worked diligently to fix her, folding his arms over his still damaged chest.
"So noble of you," he said sarcastically knowing how much the badger always butted heads with their fearless leader. Ironclaw almost seemed embarrassed to say it with his voice being so quiet.
"I'll help you get Optimus back. But we do it my way"
"Uh, not if your way will end up gettin' Optimus killed," he said firmly. This was going to be such a risky operation, he really had a difficult time entrusting Ironclaw with anything about the plan. Although, if Optimus was as damaged as Whitegrazer claimed he was, he'd likely need to be carried from the Preds to Landslide, and Ironclaw had both the strength to carry their leader and the armor to take hits for him as a shield should the Predacons open fire behind his back. As that thoughtful gaze crossed his face again, he finally said to the honey badger,
"All right, tough guy, I'm open fer suggestions. Gimme a pitch." He was, after all, curious to see what he'd come up with.
As always, the inevitable interruption came about when Rattrap's comm. link beeped for radio transmission alert and he sprung into action.
"Hold dat thought. Everybody clear out of the med lab so Rhinox can concentrate. I gotta take dis call. Whitegrazer, come with me." With that, he hurried out of the room, down the corridor and into the bridge, leaping into the console's chair and taking a breath to gather himself before accepting the
Darksyde's call.
"Ah, neighbors! Glad to see you're still at home, I was worried something had gone amiss with your communications array when we were tragically cut off from each other earlier. I do hope nothing of importance was lost, I think maximals and predacons alike can all attest to how bitter that feeling can be, yyyesssss."
Rattrap gave Megatron as real a grin as he could to annoy him.
"Yeah, uh, oh, so sorry about that. You know, technical difficulties and such. I think one of yer Preds hit an antenna on our ship. Uhhh, nope. The only thing we lost was yer ugly mug but nobody was complaining," the rodent casually shrugged, knowing full well what he was talking about.
"Now, I wanna talk to both of 'em so I know dey're alive. And no funny business." He glanced at Nemesis's beacon on another monitor, watching it gradually heading back in the
Axalon's direction. He assumed she lost track of Darkwind or he simply left because he was ordered to. Ordered by Megatron? That tricky bot didn't seem like he could bother with someone else ordering him around. When Whitegrazer would show up in the command center, Rattrap would give her a subtle motion to stay back off camera.
Everything is steady so far.
Rhinox had given a nod without looking at Cheetor while he continued to work, relieved that dangerous procedure was going well so far. And just when things had gone quiet and according to plan, voices suddenly returned to the room and erupted. He immediately stopped moving his hands when his patient moved so he wouldn't accidentally jerk the tools into her life source. He tried hard to ignore the other Maximals and remain focused as he went back to work while the others spouted off their mouths to Rattrap and explained what happened. Poor Rattrap, he was always caught up in the worst of events when Optimus left them to fend for themselves. Still, he thought he was handling it to the best of his ability. Anyway, Rhinox was always there to help him and guide them.
"Please, don't crowd us," Rhinox politely but firmly told Ironclaw without looking at him when he stood close to him, Aurora and Cheetor.
Whatever else you need, just ask.
"I need everyone out of here," he enforced Rattrap's earlier order. He didn't mean that Cheetor had to escort everyone out, he'd rather him stay where he was, so he had said it loud enough for all to hear and he expected them to obey. Aurora obviously wanted Ironclaw around but the badger's short temper made Big Green nervous, so he couldn't afford him to stick around, not while he was working so closely to Aurora's spark.
Later, taking his time, Rhinox continued to carefully grab and pull out the rest of the shrapnel that was in the young Fuzor's spark and its chamber.
"That's all of it," he said as he stood back and took off the visor/goggle helmet, setting it and the tools down on the nearby mobile table.
"Now, I just need to patch up your chamber and the CR can handle the rest. You're doing great, Aurora," he said with a soft smile.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her while he grabbed a very small soldering gun with a precision laser in one hand and a tiny clamp in the other.
))
If I recall correctly, Ironclaw was on his way to the hangar and I think most of us assumed that's where he went even though, technically, Mystrea never actually said he made it there; I think NK just assumed he did when he had Landslide confront him and Whitegrazer. So Ironclaw immediately came back to the med bay and seemed to have rallied everyone there instead. I just played along with it hoping no one would notice too much and avoid the confusion.