"Of course, my liege."
"See to it that it's done," the tyrant responded before ending the transmission, dispensing entirely with the pleasantries for now.
Truthfully Megatron had his doubts about the capabilities of his crew. And for good reason. Their track record in the past, notably when he had not been in the field to supervise them, was less than stellar. But as things were, he had other concerns to devote his attention to. The Maximals could wait, as could potential new recruits although he would prefer to get them under his command as not to give Optimus any advantages. But more importantly than the normal business was preparing for the inevitable return of the aliens. Ever since that foolish upstart had caused the signal to shoot up into the sky, no doubt alerting the Vok of the Cybertronians' continued existence and presence on this planet. And judging by their old track record, Megatron had no doubt they would make an appearance soon.
But this time Megatron would be prepared.
The aliens possessed technology far more advanced than anything available to either faction back on Cybertron. And the tyrant certainly planned to share in that technological advantage. Alas he couldn't trust many of his underlings with such an important assignment. Most were either too stupid or too keen on their own self-preservation and not loyal enough to him for that. So he had sent Deathroll, his new subcommander who had proven himself a valuable asset in many ways, in his own place while he devoted his time to uncovering the aliens' secrets using the information on his golden disk to do so.
Just arrived my lord. I'll be with you in a moment. he then said, making his way to the bridge, Umbra then set Tarantulas down on the ground. I've returned with Tarnatulas. I managed to get some information on his computer about an alien site, it seems he was prepping to do something with it.. though I couldn't decrypt the files enough to understand, but he should be awaking soon so I'll begin prep to interrogate him if you wish.
"Excellent work, Umbra!," Megatron commended. Umbra had indeed proved to be a valuable asset to him. If he could only trust Umbra to be as loyal to his cause as he was to his paycheck, he would likely have promoted the cephalopod already.
Seems he's still a bit sedated from my poison.
"I'm looking forward to finding what information you can get from our friend. Keep me updated on any changes," came the tyrant's response, not really caring one way or the other about Tarantulas' suffering. He only wanted answers and he suspected the spider knew far more than he'd been letting on.
A signal from the remaining jamming towers alerted him that the Maximals were leaving, their signals fading away in the direction of the newly activated pod. It would take Spineback and Waspinator a while to catch up. But Nemesis should already be in the vicinity of the pod.
"Be on alert. Those Maximal scum Rattrap, Cheetor and Wintersong are heading your way," he transmitted on a private channel to Nemesis.
"At least something on the hunk of junk worked."
Nemesis smiled, trying to make it as genuine as possible. If she could lure the new arrival away prior to any other Maximals arriving, that would certainly be a quicker and better option. Not quite as much fun, perhaps, but judging by Megatron's transmission just now she was short on time.
"I'll admit, I'm amazed at how quickly help came. I was just talking to Optimus Primal about help being on the way just a few kilks ago."
So he already contacted Optimus. In other words this particular recruit was already aware of his Maximal heritage. That complicated matters a little bit but it was certainly nothing the likes of Tarantulas couldn't fix with some reprogramming.. and knowing the spider she was sure some torture would be involved. It was still too soon to tell just how devoted this guy was to the Maximals.
"I happened to be in the area," Nemesis explained, keeping up the sweet approach. She then transformed to her robot form as well, glancing at her transmetal avian wings as she did.
"I often patrol this region and your pod's emergency signal caught my attention."
The explanation seemed plausible enough.
He reached out his hand for a formal introduction. The female hesitated for but a moment before returning the gesture.
"And seeming as I informally introduced myself, what is your name my feathered friend?"
Of course the male would ask. Well.. Given her name didn't exactly match those generally used by Maximals, Nemesis thought quickly to come up with a more Maximal sounding name. Her choice fell on the female who had been rarely seen due to her tendency of travelling this planet. They were both given avian forms, but other than that they really couldn't be more different.
"My name is AirRazor," she told him while shaking his hand.
"If you follow me, I'll take you back to base so that you may meet the others."
Meanwhile..
"Grab your equipment and take it to the laboratory immediately. I'll join you as soon as I can."
Aurora didn't have to be asked twice. As much as she wanted to see the confrontation between Optimus and Zodiac take place, she didn't really want to be there in case things turned gory when Ironclaw took notice of their new
guest. And she was well aware that nothing and nobody could persuade Ironclaw to let up if he had his mind set on something.
"Okay, I'll get everything stored away safely," she told the larger mech as she started gathering her stuff up and bringing it upstairs. Everyone else seemed too preoccupied to take much notice anyway. She actually had to make a couple of trips to get all her stuff to the lab, but she eventually managed. She then proceeded to put everything back in place and wait.
It sounds like someone or something took a hold of you.
Zodiac didn't respond to her musings about what would have caused him to act out the way he did. It still felt a bit surreal to him. He remembered it, sort of, but more like it had been a dream. The memories were blurry at best, like he hadn't really been there to experience them but rather had seen everything happen through someone else. It was an unique yet not entirely unfamiliar experience that held a certain unwanted familiarity to it. He had a slight suspicion it was related to his experiences with the Vok but there was no proof of such. Thus far the Vok hadn't done anything to reveal they were aware of the signal that had shot off into space. And if they had indeed targeted him, that made no sense either. He was not in any shape to fight on their behalf. As things were, he could barely even stand on his feet!
I know you experienced some pain, but do you remember anything unusual? A presence? Compulsion? Anything?
I heard whispers, he told her after struggling to remember more clearly,
but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
The last part was a bit of a lie. He had recognized the whispers as being similar if not identical to the communication used by the Vok. But he really didn't wish to discuss it, not with her, not with any of them. Yes, she knew of his nanomachines originating from Vok technology. But she was still unaware of the rest of it. And he wanted to keep it that way.
I'm sorry. I don't make it a habit to go back on my word. You know that isn't true. When you attacked, it happened so suddenly. No one knew what to think of it, and I knew that... you wouldn't have attacked us like that. Not in the state you were in. I had to act fast, especially at how close to the Axalon we were. If the others had jumped in before whatever had gripped you faded, it could have been disastrous for you. I'm disgusted with my action, but by reconnecting our link, I found out the truth. The truth that you weren't attacking us by your own will.
Maybe he did? Perhaps some part of his subconsciousness had caused him to attack those that he perceived as his enemies due to some desperate desire to remain free. Zodiac had spent so much of his life in captivity, it really wasn't something he cared to repeat again.
So why not release the link now? We both know Primal isn't going to physically let me go so I'll pose no further threat to the Maximals.
He wished he knew how the connection had broken the first time so that he could force it to do the same again. But he had not been awake for it.
I won't excuse what I did, and I'm sorry, after what has just happened, it might be best if I keep the link open. If that happens again, maybe I can figure out what or who triggered such an involuntary action.
The renegade got his response and he sighed inwardly at her decision to keep the connection active. Protesting further would be a mute point.
Landslide spoke up next, drawing the former shapeshifter's attention.
If yer keeping that thing here, I'm turnin off the Axalon's wireless network. Outside of communications, the computers will be cut off from radio signals. We can't risk having him take over Sentinel again.
Zodiac's optics followed the giant beetle's movements, finding a certain amusement in the overly cautious nature of the insect. Albeit it was true the renegade had gained control over Sentinel before, the process had been far more complicated than merely hacking using the wireless network. Even if such a feat could be accomplished, which he honestly doubted, it would require a lot of hacking skills, equipment, and time to boot. When Zodiac had done it before, he had come prepared by bringing the trojan horse program on a chip so that he could easily, quickly, and undetectable upload it to the mainframe. Of course the Maximals may not have realized exactly what he did.
The voice in his head returned after a brief pause.
You attacked Rhinox and Aurora when you could have hid or ran away if you didn't want to be caught. After all, they were at that site to study, not actively searching for you. They responded accordingly, knowing that Optimus would have wanted you brought back here, so he can get some answers that he thought were lost when we thought you died back at the volcano. Some part of me wants Optimus to at least get that much, and Zodiac, I know you don't think you want it, but you need our help. And we are willing. This isn't just about my feelings and relationship with Optimus. I admit some part of me wishes he doesn't get involved with such info, but there is more. My power is being used by people who don't understand it. They don't understand what they are dealing with. They think they can manipulate and control with their limited views of science masked by their own ignorance or pleasures, benign or malicious. I gave that power to them in a moment of weakness and arrogance. I can't allow it to spread anymore than it has, and hurt more people.
His optics narrowed as he looked at her, annoyed by her small tirade of accusations and assumptions. It wasn't as if he'd planned for the Maximals to show up where and when they did, at the alien site while he was investigating it, trying to find a way to get the nanomachines operational again. How had they known to come there in the first place?
I was there first, he told her accusingly.
I did what I felt was necessary to try to get the repairs I desperately needed.. That I still do.
Briefly there was silence before he continued.
And I wanted to keep them away from the site, he then grudgingly admitted. A lot of good that did him now. The little fuzor had seemed like a perfectly reasonable target, even in his wounded state. His mistake had come from underestimating how far Rhinox had been willing to go.
The female denied that her feelings for Optimus as involved in any of this. But the male didn't believe her for even an instant. Feelings were responsible for a majority of conflicts, wars, and decisions to act on something. His own emotions had almost enabled him to wipe out the Maximals, had this very same female not foiled his plans. Although he didn't pursue the matter further just yet, the look he sent the female was all-telling of how he felt about it.
It will protect you as well.
That remains to be seen.., he told her in return.
We both know what your contributions were used for. Not that I'm ungrateful. They were able to create technology unheard of in Cybertronian history thanks to the samples they obtained from you, if that is truly what happened. And don't you worry.. I have no intention of sharing that technology. And I likely couldn't even if i wanted to, since only a select few were able to benefit from it.
Another pause.
Believe me. They tried. A majority of the test subjects died horrific deaths when their sparks proved incompatible with the nanomachines.
He briefly shook his head as he looked away from the female now that Primal was addressing him again.
"I hope you don't mind, I didn't bother wasting my time wrapping them,"
"It will be okay, Zodiac."
Primal's words were firm, determined, and in a sense unforgiving. He seemed much more secure of himself and his role than Zodiac remembered from when he knew Nexus' protege. They had gone down very different paths since then. The female's voice was quite the opposite, daring to hope and offering a chance at forgiveness. How could this woman possibly have been Vok? She acted nothing like them. But why would she lie about something that could so easily get her imprisoned, experimented on, or even killed? The hybrid was puzzled.
He had caught the vague smile on Optimus' face prior to the Maximal commander seeing the injuries on his crew. Damages done by the renegade, even if he had not been in control at the time. Of course the rhinoceros had more than retaliated.
Zodiac attempted to return the slight smile, but it certainly didn't look genuine and probably seemed more like a grimace than a smile. And he dropped the attempt altogether when Ironclaw suddenly got up and approached them. The renegade tensed, remembering all too clearly how the representative of the Council had ripped Dirge's spark straight out of its chamber. As the vivid memory of watching the spark get extinguished in Ironclaw's hand played through his mind, his fists inadvertently moved in front of his own chest as if he'd stand a chance to defend himself.
It will be okay, Zodiac.
Whitegrazer's words replayed in his mind and for the first time, he really did want to believe her. He desperately wanted to. Because despite everything that happened and all that he had lost, Zodiac still had no desire to die. And certainly not like this, as a pathetic shell of his former self, about to have his spark ripped out and crushed. He took a slight step back, almost losing his balance again as he did.
Ironclaw stopped in front of him, staring at him quite dispassionately for a brief moment. Zodiac didn't return his gaze, didn't want to see. None of the others seemed able or even willing to interfere.
So this was it then? After everything he'd been through, all that he had seen and done.. and he would die like this.
But the blow to his chest, the one with enough force to rip through his armor and tear through his internal mechanics, didn't come. Instead Ironclaw briefly turned to Optimus before walking away. Zodiac's mouth dropped ever so slightly open in surprise before he quickly closed it again after drawing a breath. His gaze lowering to the floor, his tense muscles slowly relaxing.
"If you value your life, Zodiac, you will cooperate because Ironclaw won't be deterred by my words again,"
The renegade nodded without lifting his gaze, hanging his head low in quiet submission.
"Yes sir," he eventually responded, a lot more meekly than before, never having expected he'd address Primal by such a title. It felt a bit humiliating to say it, but it had dawned on him that his life truly was in Primal's hands. And he was certainly in no shape to object to it right now.
"Hands,"
The renegade offered no protests, instead he simply held up his hands in front of him and waited patiently while Optimus placed the cuffs around his wrists and tightened them. As the Maximal let go of his arms, the hybrid briefly tugged at the cuffs, more so because they were uncomfortably tight than anything else. He stopped the moment Rhinox placed his hand around his arm.
It would appear that Optimus wasn't done yet, however, since he immediately followed up by placing the other bonds around Zodiac's ankles. While doing so he pushed the makeshift immobilizer on the renegade's leg up a bit, causing his captive to shift his weight slightly more onto his other leg. But at no point did he make any threatening moves. The shackles keeping his legs together had a little more give to them, enough to let him at least shuffle along the floor if not make any make any speedy movements.
As Primal stood up again, the hybrid finally raised his gaze to meet the other male's. It was very much so a different facial expression than the cocky attitude that he had displayed a few weeks prior, in fact for the first time the former shapeshifter looked truly defeated. He was also exhausted, wounded, and a little frightened. Even if he'd never admit to the last point.
"Here's what I can offer you, Zodiac, that will help prolong your existence on this planet,"
"I will allow you to be repaired in one of my CR chambers, and in exchange you will answer my questions,"
Zodiac nodded, very much so agreeable to anything that did not result in him getting killed. Not now. Not like this.
"As you wish, I'll give you any information you want," he said when the Maximal was done laying out his terms. Of course this newfound compliance was likely to disappear as soon as he was repaired and more comfortable again. He briefly glanced in Whitegrazer's direction as Optimus grabbed hold of his upper arms and tugged him along, his wounded leg causing him to limp with each small step allowed by his shackled legs. Oh how he hated the sound they made as he tried to follow Primal's pace, as if adding insult to his present predicament. To further add to his walk of shame, his wings were hanging limply down and dragging behind him. One of them was visibly broken at a joint, both bore burn marks from his time near the lava, and he honestly both looked and felt like a shadow of his old self.
Primal lead him to a nearby CR chamber and Zodiac somewhat grudgingly entered it. He had never actually been in one before, never having needed one given his unique abilities, so the prospect was an evil necessity unfortunately. Once inside he let himself slide down to the floor, moving his cuffed hands up to his face to rest his forehead against them. The chamber doors then closed, sealing him inside, leaving him alone to rest if at least for a short while.
As the scanners started up so the repairs could begin, it was possible to see Zodiac's unique internal structures on the monitor on the chamber. His vitals remained stable, but the scans revealed the dormant nanomachines within and all the pathways they used to move around his body when they were active. The technology was unknown to the chamber so it focused its attention on the external injuries and the recently dislocated knee, anatomical structures it recognized.
Aurora's ears perked up as Ironclaw passed by on his way to the bridge. She had been watching the scene unfold in the hangar by tapping into the surveillance system so she knew about how Ironclaw had decided to spare his target. But what she wasn't sure about was why he did that.
Curious to find out, she rushed out of the lab to follow him.
"Ironclaw, wait up!," she called after him, surprised by how quickly the larger Maximal was able to move. She finally caught up with him inside the bridge. Panting slightly from having been running, she approached Ironclaw slowly.
"What happened?," she asked in her sweetly voice.
I really got to learn to write faster. ))
Not telling!))