"I... I'm sorry... Nexus... I'm sorry."
The look on Nexus' face as he once again turned his focus to the other Maximal revealed no anger or resentment towards the younger leader, only an unbreakable spirit that Nexus Prime was so well known for. He'd never been one to surrender no matter what obstacle he faced, a fact his pretender knew all too well and played with perfect precision. Sure, physically Nexus Prime looked to be a mess, perhaps not quite to the extent that Optimus was, but he still certainly had the scars to show for his ordeal. Still he refused to let himself be broken, using what little energy he had left to maneuver himself onto the flying platform with Night Terror's assistance. Hopefully Optimus would draw from his old teacher's relentless strength, if anything because the pretender wanted him to stay awake. It was, after all, impossible to completely shatter his hopes and spirits if he went into stasis lock or died prior to this goal being achieved. Oh no, the pretender had other plans in mind. Before putting Primal down, he wanted to make sure the Maximal leader stayed alive long enough to witness the fall of his beloved Maximals. Now that would be the ultimate revenge, the only way the shapeshifter could be satisfied. So in the meanwhile he would keep up the pretense and keep his true nature hidden.
So it was without judgement that he responded to Primal's apology, the only edge of bitterness present in his voice was directed towards their Predacon captors.
"Always.. taking.. the blame.. for.."
He paused for a moment, as if catching his breath, moving himself into a side laying position on the platform.
"..The.. misdeeds.. of others."
Yes, he realized Primal was apologizing for bringing him into this, but from the time he had spent with the real Nexus Prime the shape shifter was well aware of the admiral's reluctance to hold a grudge against those he cared for. Those who crossed him, however, were a different story altogether. For such a renowned, well-respected leader figure, the changeling had been caught off guard by how much cruelty the real Nexus had been capable of in the name of justice.
Maximal justice.
They were all hypocrites. Claiming to be bound by a code of honor, and still their actions proved otherwise. At least the Predacons and Decepticons before them had made no quarrels about their intent when they had him strapped down to a table, their instruments cutting into him. He had attempted to hold back the screams of pain, knowing full well it was his own decisions that lead him there. With
them it had been different, his screams met with silence as they worked on him. It was for the
greater good, they said. Whose greater good, he wondered. They were trying to destroy who he was and put something else in its place, to wipe him out and make him compliant with their rules. Never questioning their orders, instead making him a mere machine fighting for their cause. His memories and personality gone.
They failed.
A noise from Primal caught his attention, causing Nexus to lift his head ever so slightly so that he could look over at his
once-pupil.
"Shut up... You're wrong..."
The voice sounded so weak, so soft that Nexus had a hard time hearing what the Maximal commander was saying. Fortunately the curiosity didn't have to linger long before Primal spoke up again, his voice louder this time.
"No... You're wrong! You're wrong!"
How.. interesting.
Although he appeared concerned on the outside to see his fellow Maximal in such dire distress, on the inside he was all grins. Thus far Optimus had managed to fight his infection relatively well, surprisingly so in fact, but from the looks of it he was just about to lose control. Just when he was starting to believe he'd have to improvise on his initial plan.
"No! Lies!"
"He needs.. medical attention,"
Nexus gasped, as if the act of speaking was causing him pain, making sure that the eyes of the Predacons present were focused on Optimus before he turned his own gaze to Night Terror. With a swift and very slight nod to the scientist of his group, he shifted his position as much as his restraints would allow and opened his hand a bit so that Night Terror would be able to grab the small vial from him. An insurance policy, so to speak, should the operation not go the way they planned. He was confident Night Terror would recognize the vial and would know to release the virus among the Predacons should the situation require it.
Nemesis looked almost a little lost as the Maximals continued to clear out. They all had their orders, yet she was left without any. Not that she would have obeyed had any of them tried to tell her what to do. She was, after all, a Predacon.
But since they had decided to use the golden disks to bargain for Optimus and Nexus' lives, that had essentially left her with very few options left. There was no doubt that Megatron would make her suffer should she dare show her face back there now, especially after Darkw.. Zodiac had seen her here, fighting alongside the Maximals. Of course she had only attacked him, out of her own personal vendetta and not for any desire to protect the Maximals, but how to convince Megatron of that? And then there was the matter of Primal having gained access to nanotechnology, as revealed by his strangely glowing chest which promptly healed him. The avian female still didn't know how, exactly, but she'd definitely have to make sure the Maximals weren't able to reproduce any more of it.. whatever it was.. Or Megatron would surely blame her for that as well. That fuzor had mysteriously healed some too, although she hadn't actually witnessed it so she couldn't be sure if they had implemented the same technology in her.
She noticed Whitegrazer staring at her with those all-knowing piercing optics. The equine female had abilities to read her, to see through her solid exterior and into her chaotic interior. It bothered the avian female more than she'd care to admit, as a Predacon and first and foremost as someone who never put themselves on display. She had no need to indulge their curiosity like she had done for the scientists, if unwillingly. Nemesis turned away to avoid the other female's stare, yet she still felt her gaze upon her.
Finally the other femme left, leaving Nemesis almost by her lonesome self. Well, aside from the rhinoceros . He didn't bother her too much, honestly, he never had. He lacked the rodent's attitude and the equine's ability to read her, making him less of a threat. Not that she feared the rodent, but rather that she'd be unable to hold back her rage with the way he kept tormenting her. She was walking a thin line with the Maximals already, somehow she didn't think that slaughtering one of them would ease their impression of her any.
"If you have anything else to share with us, Nemesis, now would be the time,"
Rhinox' voice demanded her attention once again and her initial response came in the form of an annoyed huff.
Then she thought about his words for a moment, about the shapeshifter she now knew to be Zodiac, someone she shared a history with and who now posed the biggest of threats to her. If that threat could be eliminated, she would stand a much greater chance to rejoin her Predacon brethren. It was the reason she had come here to the Axalon in the first place after all.
"I just hope you're ready for what you're up against," she finally responded, settling her red optics on the Maximal,
"And that you're prepared to do what needs to be done."
She took a step towards him, dangling her arms non-threateningly at her sides.
"There is more to the story than you know, a lot more. And to be blunt with you, there's much of it I prefer to keep to myself. However take a moment to consider what I'm about to tell you."
She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, wading through the memories.
"Did you ever question how he has such intricate knowledge of you Maximals as a group? So again I ask you.. Are you ready to deal with someone that knows how you operate, are you prepared.."
Her optics grew a little brighter, her head cocked to the side.
"..to deal with one of your own?"
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