(( OOC: It could have worked, DarkSpark, although I almost think Megatron might have presumed the Maximals would just tear the towers apart or knock them down like they've done so in the past. I was hoping the Maximals could show him they can adapt and turn his own scheming against him. No, you're not dropping the ball with old grape face.
We can't think of everything all the time. I know I certainly can't. Once in a blue moon I have some good ideas. XD ))
Optimus proceeded to walk toward Ironclaw but stopped when the other bot maximized and threw his gaze upon him.
"This war never really ended Optimus.
The badger's vagueness left him a little vexed. Which war? The Beast War or the Great War? In the case of the Great War, no, it never really ended. There was always going to be turmoil between the Autobots and the Decepticons, and it inevitably overflowed onto their descendants. There would always be good and bad and different perceptions of both sides. There would always be someone who wanted power and domination, and there would always be someone to stand in that individual's way in order to stop them.
And there has ALWAYS been two constants. You... and Megatron."
Ironclaw almost made it sound like it was his fault for being an Optimus, and his fault for pursuing Megatron after he stole the golden disk. But Optimus Primal and Megatron were not the same Optimus Prime and Megatron from the Great War. So could they really be compared as the same constants? If one was talking about good and evil, then yes. If one was talking about Megatron wanting the universe in the palm of his hand, and Optimus defending the universe from such a fate, then yes. That just simply seemed to be the way of things no matter the time and place. But Primal still wasn't sure what Ironclaw's point was. One or the other had to be nullified in order to stop the cycle? Nevertheless, he remained silent and let the badger continue.
"Killing is all I've ever known. I did it... I did it for what I thought was the greater good."
It was then when Optimus couldn't recall seeing Ironclaw as vulnerable as he appeared to be right then. His eye contact had lowered to the floor, seemingly in thought or perhaps lost on his moral compass. The Maximal leader watched him and gave a small nod, understanding what he said and how someone could think that killing others was the "best" solution to stop or prevent these kinds of wars. Not the best, of course, but certainly the easiest. Except these wars would always exist.
"There are those of us, myself included, that want this war to end.
As do I, Primal agreed in his mind, not wanting to interrupt Ironclaw since he was finally talking to him in a calm manner, but they finally had a mutual feeling.
I've been told that you don't have what it takes Optimus."
Insulted by that remark, Optimus opened his mouth with the intention to demand to tell him who said that, but he held his tongue and lowered his gaze. He stopped himself from asking who because it didn't matter. It didn't matter whether the Elders told Ironclaw that, or any of his Maximals, or even Megatron. He licked the scar across his lips before closing his mouth. Optimus had been underestimated by just about everyone; from Rattrap to Megatron and the Vok, and probably those back on Cybertron. The truth was, he was nearly unstoppable. And although he had come to this realization through time, test, and battle again, he remained humble, modest and compassionate. Whoever told that to Ironclaw was wrong but Primal decided to be the better bot and leave it go. They would see sooner or later.
"Nexus.. would have been proud."
Zodiac's last words repeated in his mind again. If even he could have seen the potential and strength in Optimus, the same that Nexus Prime saw, then why couldn't Ironclaw? Why did he doubt him so much and lack confidence in his leadership? Primal had come a long way from starting out as a mere scientist, to becoming a Captain of an exploration crew, to evolving and adapting into a formidable Commander of this war of survival. Does he have what takes to take a life? Is that what Ironclaw's question meant? Taking lives to end this war? Anyone can murder someone else, effectively extinguishing their spark and ending their very existence; for ill satisfaction, or power, decreasing an opponent's numbers, mental instability, etc. Optimus certainly had the means to do so with his strength and the power of his weapons. But that was not his principals or his morals. It was not his place or his right to take away someone's life no matter how many lives they had already stolen, like Zodiac and Protoform X had, or what evil deeds they had done. Primal believed in there always being another way to stop them. Taking a life wasn't meant to be easy... It should never be easy. Was Ironclaw so desensitized to doing so that he never thought twice about it anymore? That it was the only solution? To Optimus, that made him more unstable than anyone else on his crew. He knew by now that he had to be doing something right because most of them were still alive and they were still able to stop Megatron and the Vok no matter what they threw at them. On the other hand, Primal has since accomplished extraordinary measures ever since he left Cybertron, some of which would be unfathomable to those back at home. And he had done it so far without taking another life. All of his Maximals had helped in one way or another to make it all possible.
"I don't think you can make those tough decisions. Can you?"
Ironclaw continued to be vague. What kind of decisions was he referring to?
"I gave my life to save this planet, as well as everyone else stranded here, including all of the Predacons. ...Even the ones who sealed my fate. So if your definition of 'tough decisions' is murdering Megatron and his troops in order to win this war, then my answer is no. But that doesn't mean I'm incapable of defeating them. It just means that I can't do it alone." He looked to the badger with that admission and selflessness and without pride.
"I haven't survived this long on Earth with sheer luck. I've had my entire crew behind me every step of the way, through the worst situations. It's never just about me, Ironclaw. It's about us. All of us. And it's a war worth fighting, whether it's for our survival or our freedom from oppression." Which, ironically, was what Megatron was rising up against. However, he was too power-hungry and selfish about it and wasn't offering the balance that it needed. Balance and fairness was what Optimus sought, but perhaps that was impossible to achieve. After all, not everyone can be pleased.
"I will not stop until we capture Megatron and get back home to Cybertron. ...No matter how unlikely that may seem. There is too much at stake," he vowed, ever optimistic and concerned about at what time frame they really were in considering it could be before the Great War even began.
"Peace at our time" "Thats what I was sold."
Primal frowned lightly at the more robust Maximal before him.
"I'm not sure there can ever be peace," he admitted softly with some of his own disappointment.
"Even if Megatron was killed, someone would take his place. In our society on Cybertron, it's inevitable, and it will be an endless cycle." However, he did believe that the High Council was a big contributor to the mess and worked inappropriately, especially appointing those like himself - to rid of X - and Ironclaw - to hunt down and kill Zodiac and Dirge - to do their bidding. They had oppressed the Predacons too much for too long, and they had developed too many unethical experiments like Zodiac, Nemesis and X. The corruption and callousness was not going to give peace to anyone; it would only make matters worse. To Optimus, the biggest problem was the Elders, whom he was prepared to face head-on once he returned to Cybertron. Ironclaw may disagree but Primal had far too many reasons not to continue turning a blind eye to them. Optimus would instead stand up to them, not just for the Maximals who were suffering in silence, but for the Predacons as well, many of which deserved equality on their home planet and not dictatorship from the Elders.
"I don't know why I cam back."
Through the times of dealing with Ironclaw's antics and behavior, the gorilla realized how insensitive he had become toward the badger. He was still a Maximal with beliefs and who had an interest in one of his crew members. Perhaps there was some misguidance thanks to the orders he was given, but that didn't mean he was a bad bot. After all, there was something Wintersong saw in him.
"I'm sorry, Ironclaw," Optimus said with sincerity.
"I apologize for leaving you behind and for assuming that I had lost another Maximal. I don't know how you survived, but I'm glad you did. I should have done more to make sure everyone escaped." Not that he had much control over his decision making since he was compromised at the time, and he had responsibly stepped down from command because of it leaving Rattrap to lead them. But none of that really mattered now. He offered his apology and took the fall. He then asked him,
"With Zodiac and Dirge gone, do you consider your mission complete? I ask because we could really use your cooperation and your help." What else would the badger do? Where would he go?
-----
"How quaint," "I didn't know.. he cared that much."
"Shut up,"
Narrowing his optics, Rhinox turned around in time to look at Zodiac as he watched him pretend to shoot at Aurora with his hand shaped like a gun, obviously with the intent to upset her and remind her of the shot he took at her not long ago. Raising the same fist he had used earlier to knock him out, Rhinox shook it slowly a couple times threatening to use it again.
"I could do some work to that face of yours," he grumbled in his deep voice.
"You made a very good point, Rhinox." "I don' t like keeping secrets. Especially from you two or Optimus. Anyone, exactly. Everyone has them, but mine are very dangerous. You two must understand that my silence isn't by choice. No, that's not true. It is by choice. It's just that keeping it a secret is better than letting someone die because they know it. As a soldier, as a former member of the Maximal military, who has fought in a war, I have seen things and done things that I can't talk about. They are classified, so classified that if I talked, I will be denounce as a war criminal or worse those I tell would be subject to harsh consequences. There is no knowledge that is not power, but there aren't that many people who could handle such power. It destroys them or others around them."
Older and experienced than Aurora as he was, Rhinox understood the bureaucracy and the rules of classified information that Whitegrazer was implying. In fact, he was afraid that that was exactly what she was going to get into. However, he had no idea just how deep her secret went, and until then, he didn't understand why she wouldn't just tell Optimus since he seemed to be able to handle anything at this point.
"I am sorry, Rhinox, Aurora, for not being truthful. The truth is... This morning I had a vision and was told these specific coordinates. I was told to go alone. But I didn't listen. I thought that if this was an alien site, and if the site was so important that I needed to go, and since the aliens were aware of our survival, maybe there was something there that could help us. When I realized what an ingenious invention you made, Aurora, I thought that perhaps if I told you two to the coordinates that maybe we can have a clue or something that could help us in figuring out what the aliens would do. I didn't realize you guys were in such a hurry. I didn't mean to lead you two into danger. " "I was unaware that Zodiac was still alive. If I had known... I would have went by myself. But I omitted the fact that I was taking you two to the alien site. I should have told you. I actually... didn't realize I didn't..."
"We did leave in a bit of a rush," Rhinox admitted, leading to an apology for doing so.
"But you still could have warned us before we had split up. Now that that's over with, I believe you when you say you were unaware of Zodiac's presence and you putting us in harm's way was unintentional." He felt better saying that but he still had a lot of follow-up questions, which Aurora didn't hesitate to pitch.
"How did you know it was an alien site?," "And if you suspected such, why not involve Optimus in the plans? Why only Rhinox and myself?"
Yes... How did she know it was an alien site...? he pondered.
"You probably realize that now that those weren't glitches and you would be correct."
The engineer had suspicions but he had to hear it for himself. Was he prepared for it, though? As much as he could be.
"I know what you two are thinking, and no, the Vok exiled me centuries ago.
"Say that again? The Vok exiled you?" Rhinox repeated her words with some emphasis. He was almost as taken aback as Aurora was when he glanced in her direction, but he was a bit better at hiding his initial reaction.
I have no knowledge of what they are doing here or what they plan on doing. Nor can I decipher their intent. They are strangers to me as they are to you. But now you know why I don't want Optimus to know about this."
"You are one of them?!,"
"Strangers," Rhinox repeated the Empath's interesting choice of words again as if he was offended or found it to be illogical that they were just as unknown to them as they were to her.
"Zodiac's abilities were the product of scientists attempting to recreate my power. They knew nothing of what they were messing with nor did I realize this was happening. They took a sample of my spark without my consent or knowledge and used it."
"All the power in the world.. and yet you couldn't stop them.. from taking it away from you.. and creating me in your image,"
"Optimus... He doesn't need that."
"Strange.. isn't it?," "I wouldn't be here if it.. wasn't for the combined.. efforts of Nexus Prime.. and you. In a way.. you two.. created me."
Rhinox's optics were large and bewildered with all of this, looking from Aurora to Whitegrazer to Zodiac.
"How did you not know, Whitegrazer? How did they take a piece of your spark without you knowing?" That was surgical expertise almost beyond Rhinox's experience. Sure, he could bring a spark back from the other side of the Matrix and stuff it into a blank protoform... with Whitegrazer's help... Whitegrazer, who was part Vok or something? ...but he dare not splice a spark; it was far too risky and dangerous.
"You still refuse to share any of this with Optimus when he has had the most invasive encounters with them?" He shook his head since he was unable to understand her logic in that again.
"You do realize that you had a vision this morning and so did Optimus. What if your connection to the Vok is also invading his mind now through your bond? Are they targeting him because of you?" Or had they really left something behind in him after all the experiments they had put him through like Primal had suggested? The scientist glanced around in thought as he threw spontaneous puzzle pieces together, mostly hypothetical reasoning but they were still things to consider.
"The Vok have been targeting him since we landed here," he thought out loud with his mind racing.
"They know this is Earth. They've been here a long time, in the past no less before we even showed up, setting up their traps and weapons before they finally had enough of us. They know who we are and where we're from. You were exiled from them, Whitegrazer? Why? What happened? ...You know, I don't really believe in coincidences." Could this whole situation really be as big as he was beginning to think it was?
Primus..., he thought, and he had to speak with Optimus about it. Not necessarily about Whitegrazer and the Vok, but about everything else that was unfolding.
"It was a mistake for you two to find out, and my fault. I had to make a choice, and I thought even if you found out about me, that maybe it would be worth it just to gain any information on the Vok. Maybe the High Council would forgive you two, but I'm going to make sure all the same. There is a way to keep you two safe from any consequence. Erase what you scanned from me and Zodiac. Keep the information you scanned from the site. And forget what you learned and heard today. You two will be fine, though, and if they ask or interrogate you, just tell them that I forced you to lie, I threatened you. I used my abilities to manipulate you. They would believe that. You two will be safe. I promise."
Rhinox was not so easily convinced by her words. Even if they ever returned to Cybertron, they might not face the same Council that was in place before they had left. How much of their home world would be different by the time they got back? There was nothing they could do to erase what he and Aurora had just learned. In fact, Rhinox felt as though it had just opened another can of worms that even Whitegrazer didn't seem to be aware of. He didn't know about Aurora, but the engineer was not going to erase any data or lie to anyone. This was too big to be ignored.
"For now, while we're still stranded here, we're as safe as we can be from the Council. But, Whitegrazer, if anyone should know about this, it should be Optimus. You do realize that, right? He is our commanding officer," he reminded her. Of course, he had no idea how this kind of information would effect their leader. To know that he was involved with someone who was once associated with the very aliens who have tried to kill all of them, whose weapon managed to kill Primal and whose scanners that had put him through excruciating pain? Perhaps it wouldn't go over very well... But Big Green still felt that it was the right thing to do, just as Aurora had felt.
"This goes for you as well, Zodiac.You say anything to Optimus and the others, and your fate would be sealed by those who hate us."
"My fate is.. already sealed!," "The Maximal council is.. already after me.. They sent Ironclaw to kill.. me and my brethren. "
Zodiac had a point. What did he have to lose whether he said anything to anyone or not? And would Whitegrazer really follow through with her threat, or rather the Vok's threat? Wait... Whose threat? He shook his head, perplexed.
"Or if that doesn't stop you, maybe this would." "You came to that site for a reason. Was it to find a way of escape? Or was it to try and find a way to regain your powers? If the latter, then I have a solution for you. Let me help you regain your abilities."
What?!
"Whitegrazer," Rhinox tried distracting her, calmly at first, wondering what in the world she was thinking, making a deal like this behind Primal's back. But she continued.
"I can. After all, I was what those scientists tried to emulate. But what they learned nothing, only superficial. Only cruelty and pain. Torture. They knew nothing, and you didn't deserve that. I can guide you to a better way... a better path. What do you have to lose? If the Predacons found out, especially Nemesis, they will try and kill you. We are your only hope for survival. We will keep you safe and I can help you regain what you lose. Maybe even show you what you never had been shown in your lifetime. Something you lose a long time ago." "But... if you try to harm or kill any one of us, the deal is off." "I'll let you think about it."
"Whitegrazer!" Rhinox shouted then. Had she lost it? What was she thinking?! Suddenly he felt that they couldn't trust her again. First they found out that she was once with the Vok, and now they found out that she can reverse the effects of Aurora's "virus" to reactivate Zodiac's nanobots, thus returning to him his shape-shifting abilities and self-healing armor? His mouth was open almost as far as Aurora's in disbelief.
"Very well," "I will comply with your.. demands. The Maximals are safe.. from me. "
"You can't be serious! There's no guarantee that he'll keep his word if you miraculously reactivate his nanotech that we tried so hard to control for our own safety," he told Whitegrazer, speaking as though Zodiac wasn't right there to hear him.
"After everything he has done, and his lust to kill Optimus and along with the rest of us, you're willing to believe him and give him that opportunity to pose as a fatal threat again? I can't allow this. I don't believe a word he says, and I doubt he'd be grateful to find any redemption with your help despite what he said to Optimus before he fell." Maybe some of Rattrap's skepticism and paranoia was rubbing off on him, but this was getting out of control now. Did she really expect Optimus to agree to this? Was she even going to tell him before she would do it, or give him any idea that she had the ability because she bared some kind of Vok resemblance?
(( OOC: And I'm out of time. Devoting four hours to writing this after work is long enough! Time for bed. ))
And considering everything going on it might bring more fun to the mix considering what he use to be.))
I understand. Family and other life responsibilities come first. I'm going to miss you, DarkSpark. You did a great job with the characters, especially Megatron and Taranutlas when you RP'd as him.