(ooc: Ugh.. So sorry for the long delay..
I feel like I'm losing myself trying to juggle family with work and school.. )
"And why pray tell should I do that? His performance record speaks for itself."
Although it was true that Terrorsaur had caused some friction with his antics in the past, Nemesis held her ground about why it would be beneficial to keep the flyer alive. Even though she could see the fire in Megatron's optics when she argued that Terrorsaur should be allowed to live, she didn't budge on the matter. Despite the fact that she had certainly not forgotten the beating she had received that fateful day when her little secret had become known to Megatron and that she still recalled that incident with dread, she was well aware that Megatron did not need another boot kisser. Inferno already fulfilled that role quite well.
And without her interference, Terrorsaur would surely die tonight. Since she still believed the other flyer could be helpful to her, and he certainly owed her for saving his life, all that remained was to assure that Terrorsaur's petty fantasies of taking over the Predacons wouldn't cloud his judgement yet again and result in his premature death. She was certain Megatron would not grant him or any of them another chance.
"Granted, Terrorsaur's track record is.. less than ideal, but I'm certain he can be enticed to comply." Her optics flashed briefly as she spoke those last words, already having an idea on whom she would approach to achieve such a thing. Umbra. He seemed to be doing a fairly good job with keeping the crazed feline in line, so she saw no reason why Terrorsaur would be any different. Perhaps even Tarantulas could lend a claw, but personally she didn't trust the transmetal spider further than she could throw him. Brilliant as the crazed scientist was, he was still just that.. a scientist. Like the ones that had kept her strapped down to tables, cut her open, and implemented the new technology within her. A technology she had no doubt Tarantulas would love to see for himself.
"Pragmatism wins the day, but I do intend to run a tighter ship from now on, and traitorous behavior can only be overlooked for so long before justice must be served to maintain order, yyyyyeeeessss. Next time, I shall not be so benevolent, nnnnnoooooo."
Nemesis glanced over at Waspinator who was gathering up his wounded friend before her red optics settled on Megatron again.
"As is your right as our leader, Lord Megatron," she responded then quickly added,
"After we collect a few more of Deathroll's companions, perhaps we will no longer require services from the likes of Terrorsaur. But until such a time, keeping him relatively functional is a strategic advantage."
Megatron and Deathroll proceeded to discuss making a trip to the CR tanks, leaving Nemesis feeling fortunate she did not require the aid of such devices for repairs. She was fairly certain having to endure such an experience would most certainly make her claustrophobia kick in. She shrugged the thought away when Megatron addressed her again.
"So far so good it would seem Commander. Again, well done acquiring our new recruit, I think he shall serve our cause well, and I hope you two shall make a good team in the campaigns to come."
"Indeed," she responded, pondering how such a collaboration would work out. Nemesis and Deathroll were opposites in most ways. She was designed for flight, speed, and swift recoveries whereas he was bulkier with thick armor and heavier artillery. Perhaps they could even out each other's strengths and vulnerabilities.
"It will be most interesting to see the shift in the battlefield when we go up against the Maximals again."
"Nemesis, I require a little R&R of my own alas, it shouldn't take long. You are in command in the meantime, obviously. Keep this lot in line and keep an optic out for enemy activity, I would like to think Nexus and the maximals are too busy slaughtering each other or licking their wounds from our last raid to pay us a visit, but one learns to expect the unexpected in this conflict. Keep up the good work, Commander Nemesis, I trust this will be the first of a long string of successes for us both in the cycles to come, yyyyyeeeessss"
Nemesis merely nodded politely as Megatron withdrew to his private quarters. She then turned her attention to the other, non-injured Predacons.
"Umbra, can I see you for a moment? I have a task for you," she messaged the assassin next.
"And Inferno, we need you to monitor the premises. Lord Megatron is not to be disturbed during his rest. Tarantulas, I trust you are capable of finding a way to tap into the Axalon's systems so we can monitor what's going on over there. As for the rest of you; work on improving our defenses. We don't need any unwanted visitors."
"Zodiac and I are in communication, but after I realized what happened, I immediately blocked my connection with Optimus."
Aurora looked a little confused for a moment, but she tried her best to beat the uncertainty that was rising within her down.
"If you can simply block your connection to Optimus, can't you do the same with Zodiac?," she pondered before realizing that she had uttered the words.
"We need her. She might be able to lead a team through that area. Of course, if she is familiar with that area and the alien site."
The fuzor had started gathering supplies for her experimental
virus, but Whitegrazer's suggestion made her stop in her tracks. Wait.. They were not only letting the female spider join them, so to speak, but even lead a team?? That sounded awfully dangerous, even if she did believe BlackArachnia was not here with dishonest intentions. She was about to protest but realized the white mare wouldn't listen to such warnings. For that her spark was simply too pure, always willing to see good in those around her. Even those who did not deserve it.
She grabbed some of her tools that lay scattered across the bridge and pretty much everywhere Aurora went within the base. She wasn't exactly a neat-freak and she did a lot of her experimental work on the go. Now she just needed to grab a sample from Whitegrazer and collect whatever remained of the nanogel, which really wasn't much. But hopefully it would still work well since she planned to concentrate the formula. She was just passing Whitegrazer again when..
"To answer your questions, yes, it is a weapon. I don't understand why the aliens have it there just for anyone to find, but it is a complex device. That's why Zodiac's plan is taking awhile, but Zodiac seems familiar with it. Which is odd." She saw something in her mind explode again. A Planet Buster like before. "Zodiac... was aware of this alien device. I don't know why. It would seem likely that Zodiac knows of the aliens' existence or has dealt with them before. Maybe more of the latter, it seems."
"This may be getting bigger than any of us could have imagined..."
Now that sounded rather frightening.. Aurora could not help remembering the dread she felt when Optimus had gone up against the planet buster, another weapon made by these aliens. And now Zodiac had access to another one? Would they ever catch a break?
Another, stronger, earthquake suddenly shook the base, causing Aurora to almost fall had Whitegrazer not been so quick to catch her. Aurora stood up again, if a bit shakily, her tools now spread across the floor yet again.
"Thanks," she told Whitegrazer with a subtle smile as the other female let go of her,
"But I think we need to hurry this along.. The earthquakes are getting stronger. If they truly are caused by the weapon powering up, we can't have too much time."
Whitegrazer seemed to agree, even offering to distract Zodiac to buy them a bit more time. Of course Rhinox had another, also valid idea. One that sounded even more frightening. But Aurora would take anything right now.
"Perhaps a greater distraction would be to allow both Optimus and Zodiac to interact through your bond. But only if you think it wouldn't be too dangerous, and only if you're able to handle it."
The fuzor stopped in her tracks, staring from one of them to the other.
"You.. can do that?" It sounded scary but also intriguing enough that it might actually work. That is, of course, if Whitegrazer was willing and able to do it. And if Optimus was strong enough to defend himself against the onslaught.
"Good, Aurora. You and Whitegrazer get started and work quickly. There's no time to waste," Big Green encouraged them. "As for the injection... We'll figure that out as we near our encounter."
"You got it," Aurora responded, her arms again full of equipment to bring down to the lab.
You know nothing of my past, Zodiac, I never erased my past, but I'm not going to allow the past to chain me down nor would my past be used by someone like you to justify your own actions towards me or my comrades.
Zodiac chuckled darkly to himself as the female was quick to defend herself. Her reaction amused him, especially since he was learning more about her past with every memory of hers that crossed this newly formed link between the two. Granted the link worked both ways so the female would surely pick up on some of his memories as well. Oh well, within a short time that would no longer be a concern.
You are right on one thing. No one can change the past, but we can have hope for the future as well as people, even yourself.
"Finally something we can agree on," Zodiac responded, although his hopes for the future no doubt differed quite a bit from hers. In the end only one of them could be allowed to achieve the future they desired, and he certainly wouldn't allow it to be her.
As he spoke, his nanomachines flocked into the alien machine, infiltrating the deepest layers of their system to activate the final pieces of the machinery. The largest of the machines in the room started coming to life, causing another even more severe shockwave to travel through the ground from the very mantel of the Earth until it hit the Axalon and causing it to shake violently for a few nanoclicks. As it did, the very ground the Axalon rested upon started separating ever so slightly. It wouldn't be long now before the very planet the Maximals were fighting to protect would devour them.
Zodiac, that device you are using... is alien technology. The aliens aren't going to like the fact that you are using this device for your own ends. They might- no, they will retaliate, and they will go after you.
Again Whitegrazer's warning was met with a taunting laugh. From her warning it had become clear that she was able to deduce what he was up to, but he was still not overly concerned. It was not the first time he'd encountered the alien technology. In fact he'd seen their handiwork up close twice before. One of those times was responsible for him getting his transmetal form, long before the inhabitants of Earth even had a clue of the aliens' existence. This was not the only planet the aliens had visited, not the only place they had left their mark.. their calling card if you will. It was true that their power was admirable, even a bit frightening in a sense. But Zodiac was still not overly concerned. By the time the aliens, provided they were even still active, were aware of him using their machines to further his own goals, he would already have accomplished what he set out to do and would be long gone.
"You would lecture me about things you have barely even scratched the surface of?," he replied, his voice dripping with contempt, yet he selected his words carefully as not to confirm anything in the likely event they were simply guessing,
"I told you before to leave me be. I will not say it again."
Meanwhile Aurora had made it to the lab where she promptly started setting up the equipment she would need. She poured the remaining nanogel into a single dish and then started the procedure with purifying the sample. While doing that, she also prepared to extract a sample from Whitegrazer to use it to further concentrate the remaining nanogel. It was at that time the third, most powerful quake thus far, hit and nearly knocked her concoction on the floor. The walls of the ship creaked with the strain as the tremors threatened to bring the Axalon to a collapse, Aurora having little choice but to cling to the bowl and try to keep it steady while the ground shook underneath her feet.
