The Intergalactic Highway

I'm here. Don't worry, it will be all right. This connection has many advantages and it is an advantage that the Predacons can never take away. Remember that.

Whitegrazer gave Optimus tranquility with the sense of those words and he felt more confident and secure and a lot less alone even though Nexus was right next to him. Walking closer to the Darksyde, there was finally a sign of life, albeit mechanical, when the Predacons' auto-guns activated and targeted him and the Admiral. He paid no mind to them save for a glance at them from their movement. Fortunately, they had not fired upon them yet. Maybe he had been right about Megatron holding on to them, at least for a little while.

"It is a possibility," "I have not seen any records of this Darkwind, but it's very likely that he is connected to the arrival of those other Predacons. If he did infact sabotage my ship in an attempt to prevent me from reaching the surface, we probably haven't seen the last of him or his pals."

That's the only thing I'm certain about at this point, the ape thought. But neither of those Predacons who arrived with that ship could have been Darkwind. Darkwind was already on the planet causing trouble before that ship entered the atmosphere. So he had to have been on Akira. The only thing that Optimus started to question now was Rattrap's earlier report about Nexus casually approaching the new, unidentified Predacons, practically welcoming them to Earth. But the Spy failed to make any specifications on their conversation. Something just felt out of place, but now was not the time for Primal to dwell on it. Most of it was in his Maximals' hands now, and he had faith in them to find out what was going on.

"Don't worry, everything will work out in the end. Let Megatron gloat, for his self-proclaimed victory will be short-lived. We Primes are not easily gotten rid of and our purple faced friend is about to learn that lesson the hard way."

The Maximal Commander looked over at Nexus when he said that and felt his hand pat his shoulder in a somewhat comforting and encouraging way, and he gave him a smile but it was light and short-lived. Optimus was not a Prime, and he had already been killed once with the help of Megatron. Although he had learned and sacrificed a lot in the time spent on this beautiful world with one of the worst Predacon criminals, he didn't consider himself as such a prestige status of honor and hierarchy. But it was never what he was aiming for anyway. He was simply trying to survive with his Maximals, taking risks trying to go home to Cybertron, and at the same time stop Megatron from his terrible and selfish ambitions. Nexus would probably survive this ordeal better than he was going to. ...On the other hand, Optimus had Whitegrazer. Despite all of this, however, the Maximal leader hadn't slept or rested in over a day. He was exhausted and tired, and still a little beat up from the battle at the Akira and its explosion the day before. The nanogel on the upper side of his chest, however, was invisible to the naked eye and looked like his normal armor. At this point, he was almost looking forward to some cell time in their brig. Almost.

"Optimus! You accepted my invitation! Excellent, yyyesssss. Oh, and Nexus too I see, splendid! I was beginning to worry you would be unable to make it, but I should have known you would never disappoint me Primal, nnnnoooo, never you. Welcome my honored guests, to the Darksyde!"

He remained calm and showed no fear for fear was something Megatron thrived on with those he saw beneath him. Not to mention that he was no longer afraid of the t-rex after everything they had been through together. Seeing Megatron approach them and hearing the hidden mockery in his voice was nothing new to Primal at all. In fact, at first, Optimus looked right past the Predacon leader to see his Maximals behind him in the hands, or rather tentacles, of Umbra and tried visually examining their condition before his attention finally fell on to the abusive tyrant before him. Primal stopped short of Megatron's reach and glanced at his welcoming open arms, ignoring them and keeping his own arms to his sides. "I never do, but the same can't always be said about you," he said with the addition of a sarcastic smile that quickly vanished. "I said I wanted them unharmed. What happened to them?" Banshee looked as though she was just waking up. Well, he assumed it was Banshee since her DNA scanning had given her a different appearance than what he remembered on Cybertron. And Cheetor seemed to be a little groggy as well. Did Umbra just wake up him with a device? Had they tried escaping? In the past, it didn't take much for his Maximals to escape the Darksyde, with or without help from the outside. But Primal hadn't known what their conditions were when they were captured. They looked pretty beat up but that could have been from the battle earlier for all he knew. Umbra spoke up with an explanation.

Both are healthy and functional, however it was required to keep them sedated due to escape attempts. They should be able to make it to the Axalon of their own accord with little trouble.

Optimus sent Umbra a slight glare before looking at Megatron again. "I want to see Banshee and Cheetor leave first before you take us in."

Optimus? Oh no..

The Commander looked at Cheetor as Umbra helped him to his feet and sent him a small but reassuring smile, that he would be all right and help was on the way for him and Banshee.

Been awhile commander..Unfortunately for you I'm already under contract at the moment, but no hard feelings.

That remark from the octopus made Primal look at Nexus, confused and almost suspiciously. When had he ever dealt with Umbra? For what? Why? Not that it was any of his business, of course, but it threw him off. ...Then again, maybe this could some how work in their favor. Whatever it may be and wherever it may lead, Optimus gave his attention back to Megatron once again to hear his decision on his proposal.

-----

"I won't," "And, Rattrap, don't worry, I know Optimus and Nexus won't allow those Predacons to defeat them. They will survive and we will bring them back home when the time comes."

"Yeah, if Megs doesn't decide ta blow a million holes through their bodies de first chance he gets," Rattrap said realistically. Not that he wanted it to happen, but why would Megatron hesitate? Didn't these Maximals know Mega-ego by now?

With Optimus and Nexus gone, their fates uncertain, as well as the rest of the Maximals', Rattrap made his way back down to the Axalon with Whitegrazer, Nemesis and Ironclaw ((I'm assuming...)), still lugging their leader's clubs in one arm and keeping his weapon ready to fire upon the Predacon female just in case. He watched Aurora fall to her knees ahead of them and stare off into the direction that Optimus and Nexus had departed. Frowning, he approached her and Whitegrazer, who surprisingly offered nothing to the ermine. But maybe she was feeling something from her to let her be. Well, he wasn't, so he walked right up to Aurora and knelt down on knee beside her, putting Primal's clubs down and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "You do know we're gonna do everythin' we can ta get 'im back, right?" the rat told her. "But he needs our help and I need yours. The sooner we get rid of dis hallucinogen, the sooner we can rescue him and Nexus. I know I ain't the one ta normally say this but we gotta have hope because Optimus hopes. He's countin' on us and he knows we can make it through dis. He ain't dead yet, uh... not that he's gonna be," he tried assuring her, "and neither are we. So get up, soldier, and let's get ready ta show those Preds who dey're messin' with." He gently shook her in his arm in a playful manner to lift her spirit and got to his feet after he picked up Primal's twin weapons and headed into their base.

"Shall I prepare a cell for the prisoner,"

"Don't bother," Rattrap told Dinobot as he entered the command center and placed the TransMetal sticks on a console. "Optimus has officially lost his mind an' said Nemesis is gonna work with us 'cause she got thrown out of the Dorksyde. Supposedly, dere's some nut job goin' around and framin' her fer somethin' she didn't do. Supposedly, dis imaginary individual had video of her leavin' our base. So, I'm gonna check our surveillance footage, and Aurora's gonna help find a cure for dis hallucinogen I keep hearin' about. I want a tracker on Nemesis ta watch her every move, and limited access to specific rooms. No access to Sentinel or the infirmary or armory or... well, pretty much anything on our ship without one or two of us escorting her."

-----

"Before. Some one claiming to Primal came into the brig. His disguise was convincing but his scent gave him away."

"That's highly unlikely. Our sensors would have detected the intruder and alerted us of h-..." Rhinox cut himself short because it actually made a little bit of a sense. Someone disguised as Optimus - some how - could have gained access to the brig. But it would have had to have been a pretty elaborate disguise. As in an atom to atom disguise, down to every detail like the sensory in his optics and a match to his voice.

"The imposture gave the vial and told me to cause chaos. He didn't bother to tell me what would should I also be infected once I released it." "Had I known, I would have waited until I was in the lift and avoided getting infected."

"Let me get this straight," the Maximal scientist began. "Some stranger, disguised as our commanding officer, broke into our brig and sought you out to give you a vial that you had no idea what was contained inside, let's you escape to use this unknown substance on us and you blindly obey him even at the risk of your own life without knowing who he really was, since you clearly knew it wasn't Optimus himself, and you actually do it? What was in it for you, besides the joy of infecting yourself and trying to escape?" Rhinox almost chuckled at the foolish scenario but held it back, lightly shaking his head. His hands fumbled on some equipment and he grumbled to himself as he tried coping with his impaired vision.

"Very well," "I'll help you."

"I'm not sure that we can trust you, Sonar. Not just because you're a Predacon, but because you're infected and unpredictable. Who's to say you won't run out of here and try infecting everyone else on our ship? What guarantee do I have that you'll behave? Because you want to be cured, too? Assuming this can be cured. As our luck would have it, you don't even know what you unleashed."

"Dinobot, where are Rattrap and Aurora?" Big Green called through his comm. link to the raptor.

((OOC: OH! Okay! I just wanted to know. No worries! ))

NaitoKage wrote: Aye, lets go pick up the kids.

She smiled at Landslide, "All right, let's-" She was about to go to beast mode when in surprise, the big beetle picked her up and placed her on his form.

Sorry if I'm a bit rough lass, We'll get there faster if we skip most the land route,but we'll have to switch to ground to avoid detection from their radar.

She understood the hurry and she agreed that it would be much faster for them to both fly than for her to be galloping in a speed, though fast, wasn't as fast as Landslide's, "Just remember that we shouldn't get too close...let's just get as close as we can so we can detect them and picked them up."

She looked back towards the Axalon, noticing Rattrap close to Aurora. Hopefully, he could help her understand, help her better than Optimus and she could. Hopefully, Aurora would feel more comfort in Rattrap's words. That's all she wanted. Aurora... The young one probably couldn't even hear her or maybe she does? Her connection with Optimus was surprising when she first felt it. Aurora's... always felt one-sided sometimes. As in she knew she had a connection yet she wondered if Aurora felt one to. Personal experiences reminded her different people took her abilities differently, but she always felt connected to the young one. Aurora, we are only defeated if we give up on ourselves and each other.

By the way.. Who's this Nexus fella everyone keeps speakin' of?

Whitegrazer turned her attention back towards Landslide.

I'm starting to second guess if I even know him. Well, with what little I know.

"Nexus Prime is an Admiral and Optimus's mentor. I don't know that much about him, honestly. I bet Optimus knows more than the rest of us." Something just didn't feel right. She could feel it, but feelings, despite how helpful they could be in most situations for her, evidence was required before she outright accused. Maybe... maybe she was allowing too many coincidences to cloud her judgement? Was she getting paranoid? Or maybe it was something more. Like something was staring at her in the face, but she was too oblivious to it?

Landslide landed on the edge of the volcanic region. She dropped down, softly. They were still far away from any Predacon to detect them. She squinted her optics as she let them zoom as much as they could to. From what she could tell, she saw Umbra, Megatron, and their two Maximals, Cheetor and Banshee. They looked abit beat up. It will be all right. Landslide and I will get them back to base and patched them up in no time. She felt Optimus's tiredness and pain. It was radiating on her. She closed her optics, feeling the raging winds hit up against her, gently motioned those feelings away to soothe, to heal, and to calm.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

DarkSpark wrote:"Blackarachnia, our guests have arrived, those cells have BETTER be ready for them!" Megatron bellowed over the coms, not waiting for an answer as he stormed outside with his henchmen[/color]"

She just ignored Megatron's bellowing from the coms. This was very delicate work she was doing. Since their Maximals prisoners were here, she needed to concentrate on making sure the sensors were working properly. The motion sensor she had installed around the room was nearly finished. She just had to stretched the padding annnnnnd there! She smirked towards herself. It wasn't over yet she had to connect the wiring to the control panel. She started connecting them.

"You may not know me very well, but I enjoy causing chaos, it's fun. And appearently the imposture knew that. As to what I got out of it? A splitting headache."

Sonar closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. "I would have tested it first before releasing it, that way I could have come up with an antidote for myself. But as you can see I didn't have that luxury."

Sonar's vision started to blur again and for a moment he found himself in that white room again. Panting, a little he snapped his eyes shut for a moment before sending out a wave of sound. Making sure he was still in the Maximal Medical bay.

"Y-you're smart not to trust me, Maximal. But I do not like being played the fool and obviously I want to be cured as well. I want to be of sound mind when I tear the imposter apart," Sonar growled, the fur along his shoulders rising.

"Assuming this can be cured, as our luck would have it, you don't even know what you unleased."

Sonar rolled his optics, they had already established that little fact. "I might be able to come up with an antidote, but I'm going to need complete access to your lab equipment."

OOC: Post finished! Just so ya guys know, I'm making Megatron's words purple from now on since he's old grape face and all, and Tarantulas' blue since he's actually mostly dark blue in color (if this is too confusing I can change it back lol). Also, Terry's eye blasts did not blow off Night Terror's head or anything, it was meant to blind him like what Dinobot did to Optimus during their duel for control of the maximals early in season one.

OOP wrote: He remained calm and showed no fear for fear was something Megatron thrived on with those he saw beneath him. Not to mention that he was no longer afraid of the t-rex after everything they had been through together. Seeing Megatron approach them and hearing the hidden mockery in his voice was nothing new to Primal at all. In fact, at first, Optimus looked right past the Predacon leader to see his Maximals behind him in the hands, or rather tentacles, of Umbra and tried visually examining their condition before his attention finally fell on to the abusive tyrant before him. Primal stopped short of Megatron's reach and glanced at his welcoming open arms, ignoring them and keeping his own arms to his sides. "I never do, but the same can't always be said about you," he said with the addition of a sarcastic smile that quickly vanished. "I said I wanted them unharmed. What happened to them?" Banshee looked as though she was just waking up. Well, he assumed it was Banshee since her DNA scanning had given her a different appearance than what he remembered on Cybertron. And Cheetor seemed to be a little groggy as well. Did Umbra just wake up him with a device? Had they tried escaping? In the past, it didn't take much for his Maximals to escape the Darksyde, with or without help from the outside. But Primal hadn't known what their conditions were when they were captured. They looked pretty beat up but that could have been from the battle earlier for all he knew. Umbra spoke up with an explanation.

Megatron clutched his hands to his chest & put on a mask of mock hurt as he said "Primal! Please, you wound me! But as Umbra just explained, no lasting harm has come to your maximals, they merely tried to leave our generous accommodations early, violating the conditions of our agreement, and, well, this IS a Predacon military base, accidents happen...You better than anyone should know it could have been MUCH worse, yyyesss. Besides, why remove two pawns from play when it would cost me the king and queen? Hhmmm? Be grateful I am more level headed than say, our mutual friends Dinobot & Nemesis, and know how to keep my priorities straight."

OOP wrote: Optimus sent Umbra a slight glare before looking at Megatron again. "I want to see Banshee and Cheetor leave first before you take us in."

Megatron made a tsk tsk sound with his tongue with another hurt expression and said "I hardly think you're in any position to make demands Primal, but I'm a mech of my word. But first, I have presents for you, I spared no expense, and you simply MUST try them on now, I insist."

With a snap of his fingers, Tarantulas scuttled forward, chuckling evilly as he maneuvered the power bonds around both Primal and Nexus with his remote, effectively ensnaring them. It was then that Megatron grinned, not a friendly grin, but an evil grin, the one of a demon that had successfully captured the spark of an unwary bot who hadn't read the fine print of some hellish bargain struck until it was too late, the grin of someone who had already won and knew he was gazing upon two very dead enemies who did not yet realize yet that they were already ghosts for all intents and purposes. There would be no heroic rescue or escape this time, somehow, Megatron knew Primal could sense that, he would not cheat death again, and Megatron would not tolerate any of his lackey's usual mistakes. The Beast Wars were over, he had won...So what of Cheetor and Banshee? It was plain to see that most gathered here, maximal and predacon alike, now expected Megatron to execute the first two prisoners right before Primal's eyes, letting him know that it had all been for nought, he'd thrown his life away, AGAIN, for nothing.

"Hehehehahahaha, goodbye mammals" Tarantulas said as Megatron raised his gun, charged it, and fired...And shot the bonds holding Banshee and Cheetor.

"Run along home little ones, your leader and I have much catching up to do. Quickly now, don't doddle, I am sure the rest of your friends are eager to have you home safe and sound, yyyyessss" Megatron said, his voice and expression one of complete sincerity, which somehow made this "act of mercy" seem creeper still, like some cruel joke he was playing with their lives...And honestly, it probably was, for as far as he was concerned, all the maximals were already doomed.

"You're seriously letting them go?!" Tarantulas gasped, shocked by the lack of a traditional Megatron double cross, something the tyrant was well known for afterall.

"Primal has what he wants, I have what I want. A fair and equitable trade, don't you agree?" Megatron replied casually, with just enough hint of menace to let the spider know he would not be questioned on this matter, nooo.

"....Of course, Megatron" Tarantulas replied back hesitantly, not liking this but in no hurry to lose his head over it.

Megatron was no sentimental honor bound fool like Dinobot, he did not let these meager maximal grunts go out of mercy or compassion, he did so because it decreased the likelihood of Primal springing some desperate last ditch effort to free them, or the rest of the maximals staging a rescue attempt sooner rather than later before he could force anything valuable out of their leader. Cheetor and Banshee were small fish in a very big pond, and Megatron had just caught the big ones, he had no use for the little ones anymore. He could afford to be patient and delay their executions a while longer, for now, he had more important matters to attend to.

Giving Optimus and Nexus the biggest, most friendly smile he could muster, Megatron wrapped his arms around the shoulders of his two effectively helpless foes and said "Well, now that that's settled, care to come inside? I think you're going to LOVE my new guest room, yyyyesss."

Naitokage wrote: Waspinator watched as the ship came down, speaking to himself with a surprised buzz Wazzpinator...won?!

"Hey, don't sound so surprised, you had ME in command of this operation after all!" Terrorsaur bragged, admiring the sight of the mighty enemy ship crashing to the ground below in a sea of flames, HIS power and skill had made this victory happen, not Megatron's, not some alien power up, HIS...Terrorsaur truly was one of the elite now that had become a transmetal!

"Score one for the home team! RAWK!" Terrorsaur cheered, cawing in triumph with his arms outstretched to show off his physique, imitating the statue pose of the Decepticon war hero Cyclonus back on Cybertron, a skilled air commander who's only flaw had been his blind devotion to his leader Galvatron...A mistake Terrorsaur would never make.

Admiralgrim wrote: Night Terror looked at the situation around him.

Console were overloading and sparking. The engines were no longer functioning. The Ambition, his ship, was falling out of the sky.

Flashes of light illuminated Night Terror. He resigned to the ships fate. He quickly downloaded what information he could from the data files. He aimed towards one the port windows and blew it out with a blast from his eyepiece. Taking one last look around at the bridge he sighed, and flew out the window.

He looked around the battlefield. Below him, Dirge was engaged with one of the ground forces. Then he saw him. The one that had destroyed his ship. Still following the ship as it went down, still firing away at the engines and cutting them to pieces.

Night Terror drew his sword and flew straight towards the enemy. He did not fire his eye-beam. No, he want to get as close to this bot as possible, and hit before he could react. He approached the bot from behind and thrust his sword towards him. He would drain the bot dry of all the energy he had left.

Despite his showboating, Terrorsaur had noticed something flying out of the ship as it had went down, but decided to play it cool and let the enemy come to him, and he did, the invader trying to stab him in the back from behind, the irony of which was not lost on him, as he turned around just in time to block his thrust with his own blade and said "Welcome to the neighborhood" before zapping him in the eyes with a quick blast of his own eye beams, kicking him away shortly after.

"I don't know where you come from pal or what you're doing here, but a good captain should always go down with his ship...So don't you!? LETS GET HIM WASPINATOR!" Terrorsaur yelled, flying after the mystery pred with his twin swords out, slashing at him violently, intending to cut him up like he had his ship.

DarkSpark wrote: Despite his showboating, Terrorsaur had noticed something flying out of the ship as it had went down, but decided to play it cool and let the enemy come to him, and he did, the invader trying to stab him in the back from behind, the irony of which was not lost on him, as he turned around just in time to block his thrust with his own blade and said "Welcome to the neighborhood" before zapping him in the eyes with a quick blast of his own eye beams, kicking him away shortly after.

"I don't know where you come from pal or what you're doing here, but a good captain should always go down with his ship...So don't you!? LETS GET HIM WASPINATOR!" Terrorsaur yelled, flying after the mystery pred with his twin swords out, slashing at him violently, intending to cut him up like he had his ship.

Staggering back from the being hit by this bot's own eyebeams, Night Terror quickly regain composure and began to parry the vicious attacks. He fired his own eyebeams at the bot with the higher pitched voice to keep him at bay.

Night Terror admired the Predacon's ferocity. But Night Terror preferred precision. As soon as he parried the next attack, Night Terror fired his eyepiece at his foes hand. He then quickly lunged at his enemy.

(ooc: *squeals@Megsy* You know.. I can really hear him saying these things.. Loving it. )

Nemesis said nothing more as she watched Primal and Nexus disappear off into certain doom, having been on the receiving end of Megatron's wrath recently enough to know that the two Maximals were making a deadly mistake. The tyrant wasn't about to take any chances this time, no, he would get right down to business and crush his enemies first chance he got. Then he would go after the other Maximals, find her there, and she didn't care to think about what punishment he'd conjure up for that. Her plan had been to seek out Optimus for his assistance since they obviously had a common foe, not to seek refuge with the other Maximals. So far their reactions to her being there hadn't exactly been unexpected, most of them were more than a little suspicious of her and her motives. Not that she blamed them for it, knowing full well that her past encounters with them had been less than forthcoming. Still, the other Maximals weren't nearly as predictable as Optimus and some of them did not share his infallible devotion to do the right thing.

To do the right thing..


The words lingered for a moment as she thought about it. When it came down to it, she wasn't quite sure what the right thing was. Not anymore. She'd been fighting for so long, she had killed on the orders of others and sometimes just for fun or out of necessity, her track record was as shaded as they came with countless crimes that made her a wanted criminal back on Cybertron. It was fortunate that the Maximals had only scratched the surface of everything she'd done, otherwise there was no way they would agree to assist her against Darkwind.. or whoever he was.

Making her way down towards the base with the other Maximals, she tried to ignore the weapons that were still aimed at her. If she had to, she could still leave should the situation escalate, but for the time being she was trying not to provoke anyone further. The Maximals could still be useful in finding Darkwind and putting a stop to his antics, she told herself, so she'd just have to swallow her pride for a little bit.

Aurora barely moved when Rattrap came over to her, talking in a surprisingly soothing voice for him. She avoided looking at him, albeit she soaked up the words of comfort as she desperately needed to hear them right now.

"You do know we're gonna do everythin' we can ta get 'im back, right?"

Aurora nodded in acknowledgement, her eyes still fixed on that spot in the distance where Optimus and Nexus had disappeared from view a while ago, as if part of her was thinking they might change their minds and return.

"But he needs our help and I need yours. The sooner we get rid of dis hallucinogen, the sooner we can rescue him and Nexus. I know I ain't the one ta normally say this but we gotta have hope because Optimus hopes. He's countin' on us and he knows we can make it through dis. He ain't dead yet, uh... not that he's gonna be,"

The little fuzor could not help cracking a slight smile at the rat's attempt to help. She knew he wasn't one to talk about feelings much, other than his catch phrase about how they were all going to die or some snappy remark to someone. Or defending his collection of garbage with a passion unseen among their kind.

"and neither are we. So get up, soldier, and let's get ready ta show those Preds who dey're messin' with."

Oh Rattrap.. He might smell bad and have a rotten attitude towards most things, but she was certainly glad he had stayed behind while Optimus took it upon himself to play martyr.

"You're.. right," she finally said with a sigh as if the words hurt when she said them, "But we really could have used them here.. with us.. and not risking their lives like that. There were other options we could have explored to try to get our team mates back that didn't involve sacrificing them in the process."

Her words held a slight bitterness to them. It was true she was afraid to allow herself to hope again, afraid to have to suffer that kind of pain all over.

With Rattrap's help, she pushed herself back up into a standing position and glanced over at the others. She noticed Nemesis, surprisingly just standing there, looking at them. Aurora sent her a glare, less than pleased with the amount of Predacons they were accruing, but held her tongue as she joined the others as they entered the ship.

"Shall I prepare a cell for the prisoner,"

"Don't bother," Optimus has officially lost his mind an' said Nemesis is gonna work with us 'cause she got thrown out of the Dorksyde. Supposedly, dere's some nut job goin' around and framin' her fer somethin' she didn't do. Supposedly, dis imaginary individual had video of her leavin' our base. So, I'm gonna check our surveillance footage, and Aurora's gonna help find a cure for dis hallucinogen I keep hearin' about. I want a tracker on Nemesis ta watch her every move, and limited access to specific rooms. No access to Sentinel or the infirmary or armory or... well, pretty much anything on our ship without one or two of us escorting her."

The avian Predacon's optics met with the former Predacon lieutenant's and she had to fight back a smirk when the rodent informed him of her volunteered stay. Even now she found a certain amusement in what was going on, mixed with a growing sense of disbelief. Well, of course the Maximals were going to take certain precautions with her inside their base, she had expected no less of them, but it was still interesting to hear the pint sized temporary leader tell the others how to handle the situation. It didn't take long before her red optics wandered down to the smaller rodent.

"Do I sense a lack of trust? Oh, you hurt my feelings."

She didn't even attempt to disguise her voice as sincere, still she didn't make any attempts to move.

(ooc: Getting pretty sleepy so will try to finish up Nexus response but posting this for now..)

((OOC: It is proven. DS is the best Megatron player in this forum. ))

"I want to see Banshee and Cheetor leave first before you take us in."

"I hardly think you're in any position to make demands Primal, but I'm a mech of my word. But first, I have presents for you, I spared no expense, and you simply MUST try them on now, I insist."

Banshee's optics widened and muffled sounds escaped from her mouth with herself struggling. She would not allow Optimus to give himself up just like that! NO! As the bonds were deactivated, she cut open the webs that bound her with her arm blades, removed the webbing off her mouth and glared at Megatron with her pastel yellow optics, growling.

"Run along home little ones, your leader and I have much catching up to do. Quickly now, don't doddle, I am sure the rest of your friends are eager to have you home safe and sound, yyyyessss"

"Optimus, don't trust him...Predacons like Megatron always go back on their word! They'll activate their autoguns and fire upon us once we leave!" Banshee took out her throwing knives, ready to strike if anything happens.

Optimus Primal wrote:"I want to see Banshee and Cheetor leave first before you take us in."

Megatron wrote:"Primal! Please, you wound me! But as Umbra just explained, no lasting harm has come to your maximals, they merely tried to leave our generous accommodations early, violating the conditions of our agreement, and, well, this IS a Predacon military base, accidents happen...You better than anyone should know it could have been MUCH worse, yyyesss. Besides, why remove two pawns from play when it would cost me the king and queen? Hhmmm? Be grateful I am more level headed than say, our mutual friends Dinobot & Nemesis, and know how to keep my priorities straight."

Tarantulas wrote:"Hehehehahahaha, goodbye mammals"

Megatron wrote:"Run along home little ones, your leader and I have much catching up to do. Quickly now, don't doddle, I am sure the rest of your friends are eager to have you home safe and sound, yyyyessss"

Tarantulas wrote:"You're seriously letting them go?!"

Megatron wrote:"Primal has what he wants, I have what I want. A fair and equitable trade, don't you agree?"

Tarantulas wrote:"....Of course, Megatron"

Megatron wrote:"Well, now that that's settled, care to come inside? I think you're going to LOVE my new guest room, yyyyesss."

Umbra observed the situation as it unfolded, noting Optimus's glare in his perhipheral vision, scanning the horizon for possible snipers or reinforcements. As the group started to move, he then heard Banshee.

Banshee wrote:"Optimus, don't trust him...Predacons like Megatron always go back on their word! They'll activate their autoguns and fire upon us once we leave!"

As she pulled out her throwing knives, Umbra drew the tail weapon he confiscated from Cheetor off from his shoulder in a swift swing knocking the throwing blades out of her hand, then moved in with a slight crouch palm striking her stomach with his left hand, then stepping back as he swung the tail weapon down catching her ankle with the hook of the weapon tripping her up in a swift motion onto her head.

While this was happening, Cheetor transformed to his robot mode rushing towards Umbra with a cat like roar as he attempted to throw a punch, only to find the cephalopod step back and to the right catching Cheetor's arm with the tail weapon, locking Cheetor's arm and with a twist, throwing him into the ground hard.

Umbra made the tail weapon go slack as he swung it around like a nunchaku over his shoulder, across his back, to his other hand and shoulder, then swung it down as it went rigid stopping just inches from Cheetor's face, Your lives are already paid for!

Cheetor held his arms up with wide optics seeming to give up Whoa! Um.. can I have that back?

Umbra sighed, dropping the tail weapon to the ground, then spoke up Now stop making this any harder on them and go... Remember the sacrifices they made for you and honor their memory.. That's all you can do now.

Cheetor's optics narrowed sadly as he got up, picking up the weapon and putting it away. He felt completely helpless in the situation, but as screwy as the Predacon Ninja was, he was right. Cheetor and banshee were in no shape to go against the Predacons,he was just making it harder on Optimus since Optimus just wanted to see them go alive. He looked towards Optimus with a sad expression ... I'm sorry Optimus..

Cheetor then walked towards Banshee to help her up Come on.. lets go..


Umbra crossed his arms watching the two, shaking his head.

___________________________________________

Whitegrazer wrote:"Nexus Prime is an Admiral and Optimus's mentor. I don't know that much about him, honestly. I bet Optimus knows more than the rest of us."

Landslide snorted slightly A Prime eh? That doesn't mean as much as it used ta back in the day with those Energon matrices around'. Then again.. lotta things have changed since those days. Seeing anything lass?

_________________________________

Terrorsaur wrote:"Welcome to the neighborhood""I don't know where you come from pal or what you're doing here, but a good captain should always go down with his ship...So don't you!? LETS GET HIM WASPINATOR!"

Watching Terrorsaur fight with Night Terror, just as Night Terror made a lunge for his comrade, Waspinator opened fire with his toxic stinger in a rapid burst at Night terror's backside while giving a strange buzzing like laugh.

Ironclaw approached the Axalon in his beast mode, he could see the few Maximals dotted around outside. The Predacon was there also. He crawled steadily compensating for his weight. He saw Aurora fall to her knees and after a moment rise again, her passion for Optimis pained him slightly. It wasn't out of jealously, he just felt the urge to do or say something. He hadn't interacted with her in very long time. The badger transformed. It wasn't a smooth transition, he rolled forward and kicked up dirt as he went. His hands protruded out and smacked on the ground followed by his body rising upwards to his full height. The last movement was his eyes opening to reveal the glow. By the time he arrived at the lift the others had already entered the base. Ironclaw went up to the lift, hunching over slightly so he would fit. Once he reached the top, he saw who was there and kept a grim look on his face. He realised that he held a slightly darker presence than his fellow Maximals. However he heard something that made his mech fluid boil. He heard Nemesis say something, it wasn't so much what she said, it was that she had the audacity to open her mouth considering what had just transpired. She hadn't noticed he was there so he grabbed her head with one hand and slammed it against the centre circular table. He didn't care who else was there, gripping her head he kept her there for a moment.
"Speak when spoken to" the Maximal soldier said then pulled her off the table and let go of her dismissively. He agreed with everything Rattrap had said. Ironclaw did his best to put it behind and he went over to Aurora. He didn't patronise her or underestimate her, he just treated her like any other member of the team.
"Tell me about this hallucinogen"

OOC: Sorry for the wait, guys. I had somewhere to be last night and got home later than I expected.

BIC:

"Does everyone on this planet possess the same bad timing?" "Umbra, Inferno, bring the maximal prisoners, Tarantulas, the bonds. You three are coming with me. Quickstrike, knock Starshadow out with your venom and lock her up, SECURELY, somewhere out of sight and out of mind until this ordeal is finally over. Arachnitron save the blasted analysis on her mech fluid for later, we'll decide her fate then, & scan for traces of maximal activity in case Primal decided our captives aren't worth his life after all. AND SOMEONE AIM THOSE AUTOGUNS ON THEM! MOVE!"

Arachnitron sighed quietly. She was growing tired of these constant contradictory orders, but she nodded to Megatron anyway. "Yes, Megatron," she responded, but didn't stop the scan of the mech fluid sample. Instead she rushed over to one of the other monitors to scan for traces of Maximal activity and positioned herself near one of the autoguns to aim it at the Maximals in the area.

"There are only two Maximals in Predacon territory as per your agreement," Arachnitron announced.

She watched as Megatron, Inferno and Umbra escorted the Maximal prisoners out of the base to greet Optimus and Nexus Prime. Before Tarantulas joined them, he snuck a peek over Arachnitron's shoulder at the results of the scan of Starshadow's mech fluid.

"Make a copy of this, quickly!"

"I'm on it," Arachnitron whispered. Tarantulas followed the trio out the door to greet their "guests" and Arachnitron immediately began making a second copy of the results from the scanners. Quickstrike escorted Starshadow off the bridge to restrain her in one of the holding cells leaving Arachnitron by herself in the command center. (OOC: I think she's by herself...can't think of anyone else that would be there....)

Leaving the autoguns, Arachnitron stepped back over to the results of the scanned sample of Starshadow's obscure mech fluid. Arachnitron remembered how it glowed in the hallway, but then mysteriously stopped glowing just recently. She was curious as to what made the mech fluid have its odd coloring, not to mention its glow. She leaned over the equipment to view the scanned sample. The scanner revealed the substance to have many of the same properties of any other mech fluid except some highly irregular anomalies she didn't recognize. They were black and silver in color with what looked to be appendages, but the scan couldn't identify them. The anomalies were so small...that was more than likely the reason the scanners couldn't identify them. Either that or they were some sort of technology unknown to the Darksyde's scanners.

Tarantulas was a highly skilled scientist with vast knowledge. He was highly intelligent. If the Darksyde's scanners couldn't identify the anomalies in Starshadow's mech fluid, perhaps Tarantulas had better equipment in his lab. If anyone could identify the anomalies, Arachnitron was confident that Tarantulas would be the one to do it.

In a few nanoclicks, the scanner indicated it was done making the copy of the mech fluid scan. Arachnitron grabbed the disk she used to copy the information and stored it in her subspace for safe keeping until she and Tarantulas could reunite in private. She darted back over to view the prisoner exchange on the monitors. Megatron had already applied the power bonds to the Maximal prisoners and looked as though he intended to escort them back in the base, but he paused for a moment. It looked like Banshee and Cheetor were causing some kind of commotion.

The distraction gave Arachnitron a few moments to think about the copy she had made. Tarantulas had ordered her to obey Megatron without question to avoid suspicion that they might be plotting things in secret. Not that Megatron didn't already distrust all eight-legged creatures regardless of her seemingly loyal demeanor. But Arachnitron couldn't help but think twice about what she had done. Tarantulas and Megatron both had the same results....strange anomalies that the Darksyde's computers couldn't identify. Arachnitron was betting on Tarantulas having access to equipment that Megatron might not have...which was probably true, but Megatron, being the rogue, outlaw that he was may have experience with different technologies than the others. What if she gave him the results of the scan and he knew what the anomalies in Starshadow's mech fluid were?

There were about a dozen reasons Arachnitron could think of for Tarantulas to know something about Starshadow that Megatron didn't know....but the reason that most affected her was how much it would please Tarantulas to know Starshadow's secrets. Megatron couldn't get the same scanner results that Tarantulas was given....she couldn't risk him knowing something about Starshadow before Tarantulas. Even if Megatron ordered Tarantulas to examine the scans and give his thoughts about what he saw, he would take credit for any discoveries Tarantulas made.

Arachnitron went back to the scanner that had scanned the sample and brought up the results of the scan and deleted them. Quickly, she used one of the tools on the table to make a small incision on her wrist. Using an empty beaker, she drew a sample of her own mech fluid, put it on the scanner and began the scan. She took Starshadow's sample and hid it in her subspace.

When Megatron received the results, there would be absolutely nothing unusual about Starshadow's mech fluid. She couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't try to take another sample on his own and do another scan, but at least this way, it would give Tarantulas a head start. Arachnitron returned to the monitor near the autoguns so that once everyone returned to the command center, it would appear that she was watching the autoguns the entire time.

(ooc: Starshadow, hope I explained the mech fluid right. Aside from the anomalies, you told me about, is it any different from regular mech fluid? Do I need to edit anything?

As a side note, Arachnitron is not a mutant so by using her own mech fluid she won't be revealing anything about herself. Her condition did not physically change her. The experimentaion done on Arachnitron involved her programming, so nothing about her other personalities will appear in the scan.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Does everyone on this planet possess the same bad timing?" "Umbra, Inferno, bring the maximal prisoners, Tarantulas, the bonds. You three are coming with me. Quickstrike, knock Starshadow out with your venom and lock her up, SECURELY, somewhere out of sight and out of mind until this ordeal is finally over. Arachnitron save the blasted analysis on her mech fluid for later, we'll decide her fate then, & scan for traces of maximal activity in case Primal decided our captives aren't worth his life after all. AND SOMEONE AIM THOSE AUTOGUNS ON THEM! MOVE!"

Inferno reached down to grab the prisoner he had been placed in charge of, but was taken aback when Umbra grabbed both prisoners and placed them in his tentacles. Inferno shrugged and pulled his weapon out of its holster just in case they tried anything again. Umbra had taken it upon himself to make minor repairs as Inferno stood guard. The octopus also gave them a syringe of something that awakened them in time to greet their commander.

Once outside, the group greeted Optimus Primal and Nexus Prime for the prisoner exchange. Primal, of course, noticed right away the minor injuries from the escape attempt.

Umbra looked towards Optimus Both are healthy and functional, however it was required to keep them sedated due to escape attempts. They should be able to make it to the Axalon of their own accord with little trouble. he then set Cheetor down onto his feet.

Megatron clutched his hands to his chest & put on a mask of mock hurt as he said "Primal! Please, you wound me! But as Umbra just explained, no lasting harm has come to your maximals, they merely tried to leave our generous accommodations early, violating the conditions of our agreement, and, well, this IS a Predacon military base, accidents happen...You better than anyone should know it could have been MUCH worse, yyyesss. Besides, why remove two pawns from play when it would cost me the king and queen? Hhmmm? Be grateful I am more level headed than say, our mutual friends Dinobot & Nemesis, and know how to keep my priorities straight."

Optimus sent Umbra a slight glare before looking at Megatron again. "I want to see Banshee and Cheetor leave first before you take us in."

Megatron made a tsk tsk sound with his tongue with another hurt expression and said "I hardly think you're in any position to make demands Primal, but I'm a mech of my word. But first, I have presents for you, I spared no expense, and you simply MUST try them on now, I insist."

With a snap of his fingers, Tarantulas scuttled forward, chuckling evilly as he maneuvered the power bonds around both Primal and Nexus with his remote, effectively ensnaring them.....

"Hehehehahahaha, goodbye mammals" Tarantulas said as Megatron raised his gun, charged it, and fired...And shot the bonds holding Banshee and Cheetor.

Inferno also chuckled merrily as Megatron raised his gun and fired. He, too, expected Megatron to shoot the prisoners, but was stunned to silence when he, instead, shot the bonds off of them.

"Run along home little ones, your leader and I have much catching up to do. Quickly now, don't doddle, I am sure the rest of your friends are eager to have you home safe and sound, yyyyessss" Megatron said, his voice and expression one of complete sincerity, which somehow made this "act of mercy" seem creeper still, like some cruel joke he was playing with their lives...And honestly, it probably was, for as far as he was concerned, all the maximals were already doomed.

"You're seriously letting them go?!" Tarantulas gasped.

Inferno shot the spider a warning glance. While Inferno, too, was shocked he wouldn't dare question the Royalty in front of the Maximals. Their Queen was capable of making his own decisions and since he ruled over all of them, it was their job to trust in those decisions even if they sometimes shocked and surprised them. He would remind Tarantulas later about showing the Royalty the respect he deserved.

"Primal has what he wants, I have what I want. A fair and equitable trade, don't you agree?" Megatron replied casually, with just enough hint of menace to let the spider know he would not be questioned on this matter, nooo.

"....Of course, Megatron" Tarantulas replied back hesitantly, not liking this but in no hurry to lose his head over it.

Just as Megatron started off towards the Darksyde with Optimus and Nexus, restrained, and in tow, one of the Maximals pulled out her weapons and shouted warnings to Optimus about not trusting Megatron. Again, more disrespect for the Queen. Inferno was appalled. He rose his weapon to fire upon the Maximal....he didn't much care about the terms of agreement now since the prisoner exchange had already happened successfully. Before he could fire off a shot though, Umbra confiscated a weapon from the other Maximal and used them to knock the throwing knives out of the Maximal's hands.

"Well done," Inferno complimented Umbra. "Your efforts have pleased the Royalty once again."

As much as he hated the octopus for showing off, Inferno did have to admit, he did good work. Using the Maximals' own weapons against them was a nice touch. But Umbra wasn't finished, he moved in towards the Maximal, knocked her off balance with the confiscated weapon and even knocked the second Maximal down to the ground as he rushed towards him to defend his comrade. He did all of this before Inferno could blink.

"Your lives are already paid for!"

Cheetor held his arms up with wide optics seeming to give up "Whoa! Um.. can I have that back?"

Umbra sighed, dropping the tail weapon to the ground, then spoke up "Now stop making this any harder on them and go... Remember the sacrifices they made for you and honor their memory.. That's all you can do now."

Cheetor's optics narrowed sadly as he got up, picking up the weapon and putting it away. He felt completely helpless in the situation, but as screwy as the Predacon Ninja was, he was right. Cheetor and banshee were in no shape to go against the Predacons, he was just making it harder on Optimus since Optimus just wanted to see them go alive. He looked towards Optimus with a sad expression. "I'm sorry Optimus."

Cheetor then walked towards Banshee to help her up "Come on.. lets go.."

Inferno didn't move nor did he lower his weapon. "Do as you're told, Maximals," Inferno reiterated. "Our autocannons are still functional and are being closely monitored from inside the base. Break the terms of the agreement and you will be fired upon," the red ant warned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Don't bother," Rattrap told Dinobot as he entered the command center and placed the TransMetal sticks on a console. "Optimus has officially lost his mind an' said Nemesis is gonna work with us 'cause she got thrown out of the Dorksyde. Supposedly, dere's some nut job goin' around and framin' her fer somethin' she didn't do. Supposedly, dis imaginary individual had video of her leavin' our base. So, I'm gonna check our surveillance footage, and Aurora's gonna help find a cure for dis hallucinogen I keep hearin' about. I want a tracker on Nemesis ta watch her every move, and limited access to specific rooms. No access to Sentinel or the infirmary or armory or... well, pretty much anything on our ship without one or two of us escorting her."

Dinobot wasn't quite sure what to make of Rattrap's words so he merely muttered, "I see." Optimus had been infected by the hallucinogen when he had left to investigate the Maximal distress signal, so it was no surprise that he was making some questionable decisions. But Dinobot had learned from his past experiences that it didn't pay to question the Maximal leader in the midst of a crisis...especially if he weren't of his right mind.....as he had tried to explain to Ironclaw before. There was a time and a place to stand up to Optimus and Ironclaw always seemed to pick the wrong time and the wrong place.

The avian Predacon's optics met with the former Predacon lieutenant's and she had to fight back a smirk when the rodent informed him of her volunteered stay. Even now she found a certain amusement in what was going on, mixed with a growing sense of disbelief. Well, of course the Maximals were going to take certain precautions with her inside their base, she had expected no less of them, but it was still interesting to hear the pint sized temporary leader tell the others how to handle the situation. It didn't take long before her red optics wandered down to the smaller rodent.

"Do I sense a lack of trust? Oh, you hurt my feelings."

"Get used to it," Dinobot responded ignoring the Predacon's obvious sarcasm. "The vermin is suffering from an incurable case of paranoia. He would put trackers on half the Maximal crew if he could."

He looked away from the Predacon and the other Maximals to rummage through some storage compartments to find a tracking device as Rattrap requested. He hadn't looked away for more than two seconds when he heard the quite distinct sound of a cybertronian head hitting the metal circular table. Dinobot whipped around with his weapon drawn and ready only to find Nemesis' head pinned to the table by, none other than, Ironclaw. Dinobot put away his weapon.

"Speak when spoken to" the Maximal soldier said then pulled her off the table and let go of her dismissively. He agreed with everything Rattrap had said. Ironclaw did his best to put it behind and he went over to Aurora. He didn't patronise her or underestimate her, he just treated her like any other member of the team.

"Tell me about this hallucinogen"

Dinobot snarled in response, but didn't immediately answer the badger since he disapproved of the short tempered mammal's tone. Rhinox's voice came through over his comm link. interrupting the discussion on the bridge.

"Dinobot, where are Rattrap and Aurora?" Big Green called through his comm. link to the raptor.

"They have just arrived," Dinobot responded over his comm link to Rhinox. "How is the patient? Do you need any assistance?" Dinobot asked referring to Sonar.

Dinobot then turned to the others. "Very well," he said as they awaited a response from Rhinox. He made it a point to address the entire room. "This is what I know: Optimus, Rhinox, Orcariner and Saber-Fang were in the hall attempting to apprehend Sonar as he escaped from his cell. Sonar released a hallucinogenic gas into the hallway which infected all five of them. I was, at the time, in the CR chamber and thus, am not infected so far. What Rhinox knows at this point is that the virus makes them all hallucinate their worst fears. I scanned the base for further signs of the toxin and all scans turned up negative." Dinobot turned his attention to Nemesis at this point. "As of yet, we do not know how Sonar escaped. All scans for intruders have also turned up negative so if there had been an intruder, he or she is gone now. Although, if Sonar regained consciousness, then perhaps, Rhinox has ascertained more information." Dinobot returned his attention to the group. "So far, the virus does not seem to be airborne. I have been within inches of Rhinox and Sonar and am still unaffected by the hallucinogen. If the virus were communicated in that fashion, I suspect I would be infected by now."

Dinobot turned to Rattrap and Aurora. "Rhinox and Sonar are both in the medical bay if you intend for Aurora to help him find a cure. Although, I would caution everyone to avoid touching those who are affected as we still don't know if the virus is contagious and if so, how it can be communicated. Orcariner is in his quarters and Saber-Fang disappeared from the base shortly after becoming infected."

Dinobot then handed over the tracker he had found and handed it to Rattrap for him to affix to Nemesis. He held back a gleeful sneer at how uncomfortable that would make the rodent.

(ooc: I seem to have taken to splitting up my posts as of late and I'm really tired after work, but right now I'm too tired to even properly read through other posts.. I will make an effort to post in the morning so that I don't hold anything up further than needs be.

Edit: And this morning is quickly heading towards afternoon and I haven't found much peace and quiet to post thus far. Unfortunately I'll have to split up my individual characters' posts again and reply for the others later today.)

"I hardly think you're in any position to make demands Primal, but I'm a mech of my word. But first, I have presents for you, I spared no expense, and you simply MUST try them on now, I insist."

Nexus had stopped his approach towards the Predacon tyrant and raised an optic ridge a bit at that comment while his fists clenched even tighter. Megatron's puzzling choice of words made perfect sense soon enough as what appeared to be remote controlled shackles appeared. This didn't concern Nexus overly much, as he had yet to encounter constraints capable of holding him. Still he tensed up a bit when the shackles wrapped around him, effectively snaring him and immobilizing him. He attempted to move, surprised to find that the shackles were not only strong enough to withstand his efforts to break them but also limited his nanotech's ability to change his form. Nexus let out a low growl and shot a glare at Megatron.

The tyrant likely didn't notice the fire in his optics as he was busy addressing the other two captive Maximals, releasing them according to their deal. Well.. letting them out of their restraints was far from the same thing as letting them leave the area unscathed. Not that it mattered much to Nexus either way. A little to the side, another voice caught Nexus' attention. It was the cephalopod.

Been awhile commander..Unfortunately for you I'm already under contract at the moment, but no hard feelings.

For a moment his glare of hatred faded, replaced by confusion. He did not recall ever having had dealings with this cephalopod before nor did he recall seeing any information about him in Nexus' files. Of course.. should the real Nexus Prime have had any dealings with such a creature, obviously a soldier for hire, he would have kept it off the records.

Quickly regaining his composure, Nexus recaptured his normal confidence and the angered look returned. He refrained from saying anything, however, not wanting to arouse suspicion.

"Primal! Please, you wound me! But as Umbra just explained, no lasting harm has come to your maximals, they merely tried to leave our generous accommodations early, violating the conditions of our agreement, and, well, this IS a Predacon military base, accidents happen...You better than anyone should know it could have been MUCH worse, yyyesss. Besides, why remove two pawns from play when it would cost me the king and queen? Hhmmm? Be grateful I am more level headed than say, our mutual friends Dinobot & Nemesis, and know how to keep my priorities straight."

If Megatron actually managed to keep his word, Optimus would be surprised... and grateful. His adversary made a valid argument, though, and at this point, all he could do was watch and hope his Maximals wouldn't be harmed. As for mutual friends, Dinobot was not so bad and was far different from Megatron; he'd never compare them to each other for any similarities. But Nemesis? She was not a mutual friend. Why would he insinuate that? Because she had escaped his clutches and he assumed she had come running to Primal to be harbored by the Maximals like the video from Darkwind would have suggested? Well, Optimus dared not lead him on with any information about her, so he made no comment about it. But speaking of Darkwind, he didn't see anyone he didn't know at this point. Where was this mysterious bot...?

"I hardly think you're in any position to make demands Primal, but I'm a mech of my word.

No, Optimus wasn't but it didn't hurt to try and delay the inevitable. A mech of your word? he thought. Since when?

But first, I have presents for you, I spared no expense, and you simply MUST try them on now, I insist."

And thus came the part of feeling like a real prisoner of war. Primal watched the mad scientist known as Tarantulas hurry over and apply some interesting energy bonds to both himself and Nexus. They floated over their heads and settled around their arms and chests to keep them from making any sudden moves and basically making their arms immobile. The Maximal Commander remained in full cooperation as he kept his arms to his sides and watched the bonds take their places, wondering if there was anyway to break free of them. Megatron seemed much more prepared than usual this time, and why wouldn't he be? He finally had his long-time nemesis and the legendary Nexus Prime in his chains, so he wasn't going to take any chances of them escaping. "It's not really my color," Optimus joked dryly without a smile at the opposing leader, appearing to still be calm and laid back despite Megatron's intentionally cruel and evil grin.

"Hehehehahahaha, goodbye mammals"

Now Primal was about to panic. Watching Megatron raise his weapon at Cheetor and Banshee, trying to ignore the spider's horrific cackling, he almost took a step forward to plead with the TransMetal t-rex not to harm his Maximals, his optics wide for a moment of fear, but stopped himself just as his shots released their bonds and nothing more. Actually, he would have thrown himself in front of his weapon to stop Megatron from hurting them. Quickly, he tried to compose himself before Megatron might have noticed his reaction.

"Run along home little ones, your leader and I have much catching up to do. Quickly now, don't doddle, I am sure the rest of your friends are eager to have you home safe and sound, yyyyessss"

Megatron's voice was both soft and mocking so Optimus still wasn't sure if he was going to leave them alone or not. For all he knew, as soon as he'd walk him and the Admiral into the Darksyde, he'd have his Predacons fire upon them and kill them. Surprisingly, it was Banshee who spoke up then, and recognized Primal.

"Optimus, don't trust him...Predacons like Megatron always go back on their word! They'll activate their autoguns and fire upon us once we leave!"

That may be, but she and Cheetor still had a chance to escape. Not to mention, Landslide and Whitegrazer were not too far away; he could feel that the mare was closer to him now than she was when he had left her back at the Axalon, so he sent her a sense of direction through their connected sparks for her and the beetle to follow that would have them rendezvous with the cat and the bat, as well where his gun was laying so that it could be retrieved. Optimus shook his head at Banshee - he was fully aware how these Predacons behaved having fought them for quite some time now - and then watched in horror as she pulled out her knives because that caused Umbra to retaliate with Cheetor's tail weapon and bring them both back under control rather quickly.

Your lives are already paid for!

The ape in robot mode frowned at Cheetor on the ground, threatened by his own weapon. He couldn't help but admire their will to not give up and to try and help him and Nexus but it was all for naught.

Whoa! Um.. can I have that back?

Now stop making this any harder on them and go... Remember the sacrifices they made for you and honor their memory.. That's all you can do now.

Optimus would have glared at Umbra again if he hadn't been trying so hard to ignore his words, speaking as though he and Nexus Prime were already exterminated. Instead, he simply looked at Cheetor and Banshee for as long as he could because he didn't know when he'd see them again. ...If he would. They were the last of his Maximals that he'd physically get to see before they would be escorted into the dark and dangerous vessel.

... I'm sorry Optimus.. Come on.. lets go..

The Maximal leader's expression was just as apologetic and sorrowful as Cheetor's, if not more so. And he watched the TransMetal cheetah turn to leave with Banshee as he helped her to her feet. He told himself to be strong, convincing himself that he'd see them again, as he stood there vulnerable next to Nexus, who seemed awfully quiet for such an encounter so far. Optimus glanced at him and noticed his balled fists and the rage in his eyes. He seemed angrier about everything than Primal did.

"Do as you're told, Maximals," "Our autocannons are still functional and are being closely monitored from inside the base. Break the terms of the agreement and you will be fired upon,"

Optimus wanted to tell the trigger-happy ant to relax, after all Cheetor and Banshee were outnumbered and exhausted, so he highly doubted that they would try something again. Please, just let them be.

"You're seriously letting them go?!"

Shocking in these twisted events nowadays.

"Primal has what he wants, I have what I want. A fair and equitable trade, don't you agree?"

But there was more to it than that, wasn't there? Primal could hear the disguise in his voice. Megatron already thought he had won the Beast Wars now, which was a foolish and dangerous set of mind to be in.

"....Of course, Megatron"

It was quite an act that Tarantulas was still putting on. Did either of them realize how much they used and manipulated each other?

"Well, now that that's settled, care to come inside? I think you're going to LOVE my new guest room, yyyyesss."

I truly doubt that, thought Optimus when he almost sneered in disgust at Megatron's lousy attempt for a sincerely friendly and welcoming smile, but he kept a firm, blank face even as he felt Megatron's arm around his shoulders and glanced at Nexus again as the Predacon renegade sandwiched himself between them and started to walk. It was an obvious notion of him escorting them inside his ship almost effortlessly and full of pride and visual boasting toward his team of misfits. But Primal looked over his shoulder to Banshee and Cheetor one more time before the ominous entrance devoured in a seemingly pitch black shadow swallowed him as he entered the Predacon base.

-----

"You're.. right," "But we really could have used them here.. with us.. and not risking their lives like that. There were other options we could have explored to try to get our team mates back that didn't involve sacrificing them in the process."

But that wasn't how Optimus operated. He would do anything for the safety of his crew, and he couldn't let Cheetor and Banshee die, so it had to be him instead. Rattrap wished Aurora could understand this, and that there hadn't been enough to time to devise another plan. Not to mention Optimus had been infected with the hallucinogen, and he may not have been of sound mind enough to lead a rescue mission and get their two comrades back. This way, with Optimus and Nexus in their place, they would hopefully have more time to figure out a way to get things back under control and then save the two high ranking officers.

"Do I sense a lack of trust? Oh, you hurt my feelings."

"Get used to it," "The vermin is suffering from an incurable case of paranoia. He would put trackers on half the Maximal crew if he could."

"And fer good reason!" the rodent exclaimed. "If you thought I was a pain in de skidplate, Chopper Face, way till ya get a load of this chicken," Rattrap said as he pointed his thumb in Nemesis's direction. "Snide, smug, devious, nanobot infested freak," he added, mumbling to himself when he snatched the tracker out of Dinobot's awkward hand and sent him a glare at his annoyingly purposeful intention of making Rattrap do it.

"Speak when spoken to"

The Spy watched Ironclaw suddenly grab the Pred's head and shove it down onto the console, keeping her still even if just for a moment. "Thanks, Ironclaw," he smirked, walking up to the Predacon femme, his gun still in his other hand. Rattrap bent down and placed the tracker near her right ankle where it automatically activated pulling it magnetically to her armor and a robotic band extended all the way around her ankle and locked it in place. A red light blinked every so often on it to show its activity. Rattrap hoped her dumb little robots couldn't mess with it. As quickly as he could, he got back to his feet and stood back, motioning the badger to release her even though it seemed he was going to anyway. "We don't really wanna make her angry, okay?" he warned the honey badger. "Everybody take it easy. We can't get Optimus and Nexus back if we end up killin' each other," despite how much he loathed Nemesis being there.

"Tell me about this hallucinogen"

"Very well," "This is what I know: Optimus, Rhinox, Orcariner and Saber-Fang were in the hall attempting to apprehend Sonar as he escaped from his cell. Sonar released a hallucinogenic gas into the hallway which infected all five of them. I was, at the time, in the CR chamber and thus, am not infected so far. What Rhinox knows at this point is that the virus makes them all hallucinate their worst fears. I scanned the base for further signs of the toxin and all scans turned up negative."

While Dinoboob went on to explain his version of what had been going on as of late, Rattrap moved over to the surveillance footage console and started the tedious job of going through a lot of digital video, sitting down and placing his gun back where it belonged on him. Listening to Dinobot behind him, he took some mental notes and thought about how long it had been since he closed his eyes, and never got his own repairs yet, and so forth. What a day. ...Yesterday. And now today.

"As of yet, we do not know how Sonar escaped. All scans for intruders have also turned up negative so if there had been an intruder, he or she is gone now. Although, if Sonar regained consciousness, then perhaps, Rhinox has ascertained more information."

"I'm gonna find out what I can with all our surveillance. Gotta be somethin' on here somewhere," the rat broke in with his back to everyone else.

"So far, the virus does not seem to be airborne. I have been within inches of Rhinox and Sonar and am still unaffected by the hallucinogen. If the virus were communicated in that fashion, I suspect I would be infected by now."

Wow, one positive thing about their day so far. Fantastic.

"Rhinox and Sonar are both in the medical bay if you intend for Aurora to help him find a cure. Although, I would caution everyone to avoid touching those who are affected as we still don't know if the virus is contagious and if so, how it can be communicated. Orcariner is in his quarters and Saber-Fang disappeared from the base shortly after becoming infected."

Rattrap returned to the conversation when Dinobot stopped talking in his annoying, gravel-like voice that almost suggested that someone might have tortured him by jamming a bottle-brush down his throat. "Yeah, Aurora, you and Ironclaw go to the med bay an' see what you can do ta help Rhinox. Make sure Sonar doesn't escape again and spread more of this slagging hallucinogen. Dinobot, you stay here with me and Nemesis. The three of us know the Darksyde fairly well, but you especially," he said looking over his shoulder at Nemesis and pausing his attention on the video feeds, "have intimate knowledge on the details of the ship. We're gonna need a plan for a rescue mission. Start brainstormin'. Weaknesses, weapons, offense, defense, ambushes, da whole nine yards. Also, I wanna know more about this Darkwind guy."

-----

"They have just arrived," "How is the patient? Do you need any assistance?"

"He's awake," Rhinox answered the warrior, relieved to hear of the others' arrivals. "Seems to be somewhat stable. Yes, I could use Aurora's help, and someone to assist her while I keep a close eye on Sonar."

"You may not know me very well, but I enjoy causing chaos, it's fun. And appearently the imposture knew that. As to what I got out of it? A splitting headache."

The larger Maximal shook his head, almost chuckling again. What a silly Predacon Sonar was. "You should probably avoid causing the chaos that you can't control," which was kind of a catch twenty-two. "And we've known it for some time about you considering your obsession with Saber-Fang."

"I would have tested it first before releasing it, that way I could have come up with an antidote for myself. But as you can see I didn't have that luxury."

"You did, you just chose to ignore that choice and go right for the throat," Rhinox pointed out as he tried working. His large hands and fingers kept fumbling with the equipment while his vision warped like fish eyes and zoomed in and out uncontrollably. He sighed with frustration. Then he suddenly turned his head toward Sonar when he heard and felt an invisible wave, mindful that he wasn't trying to escape, but his panting and closed eyes suggested otherwise. It seemed he was trying to cope with his hallucinations in a similar way that Orcariner was.

"Y-you're smart not to trust me, Maximal. But I do not like being played the fool and obviously I want to be cured as well. I want to be of sound mind when I tear the impostor apart,"

Wouldn't we all, he thought uncharacteristically.

"I might be able to come up with an antidote, but I'm going to need complete access to your lab equipment."

Rhinox thought long and hard about that. Complete access? Probably not, but he was already going to have help soon so perhaps they could give him partial access as long as he could be watched and apprehended if he got out of control. "I will grant you access if you can answer these questions. Would you remember the scent of the intruder if you came across him again? And what are your hallucinations that keep leaving you so terrified?" Realizing that the last question might be a bit personal, he decided to share his and ease their conversation. Maybe he'd learn something valuable from the bat, like what Dinobot had hoped to figure out. "Everyone's seems to be different. Mine is my fear of heights; it's messing with my vision and sense of accuracy and balance which is why I can't slagging do anything right here," he grumbled and lightly slammed his fists on the table. It was a long shot learning something more about the bat, and since is own fear wasn't necessarily a weakness of Rhinox's unless someone managed to get him in the air, his courage would often override it under normal circumstances and it wouldn't really be an advantage of knowledge to the Predacons should Sonar happen to share it with them... if he ever returned to them.

NaitoKage wrote: A Prime eh? That doesn't mean as much as it used ta back in the day with those Energon matrices around'. Then again.. lotta things have changed since those days. Seeing anything lass?

"True," she nodded sadly. She held a great respect for the Prime legacy. Despite the end of the war, she did the best she could to read their backgrounds and history in great battles. History, no matter how good or bad, needed to be shared and read... even if some people wanted to erase it. Now, the Prime legacy wasn't as it once was. It was used as propaganda for more fighting and hate towards both sides. But it might not all be for naught. One descendant seemed to be doing just fine. She smiled warmly.

To Landslide's next question, she nodded and whispered softly--though that wasn't necessary, she was just being cautious, "I see them. Not that clearly, but they look alike beat up, but nothing severe." She placed her hand on Landslide's back as she waited, watching and feeling. There were a few close calls and moments where she felt Optimus along with her skip a beat. She couldn't see what happened, but it seemed for a moment Optimus had panicked. Predacons were toying with him already. She inhaled and exhaled as movement happened. She reached out when she felt Optimus communicate towards her with Cheetor and Banshee's coordinates. Her head gazed at the direction with an acknowledging smile.

"Follow me, Landslide, I know where we can met them."

She smiled warmly at the beetle and went towards the direction. Despite her instinct to run towards them, she didn't want to recklessly placed them in any danger. She kept a steady pace, no quick movements or jolts. It wouldn't be good to alert any Predacons and it was best that only Cheetor and Banshee see them so they could swiftly bring them back home. When she saw them walking up towards them, she waved at them and placed each of her arms above to help them along towards Landslide, "You two are safe now. We will bring you two back to base and gave you a nice time in the CR chamber, okay?" She noticed Cheetor's helplessness expression and said the same words Optimus said to her, "This isn't the end." She looked towards the female known as Banshee, "Optimus spoke of you. Don't worry, you are with friends." she patted her softly as well as Cheetor.

She looked back towards the direction of the Darksyde. She held her head high, closing her optics. We have them, Optimus. You don't have to worry about them, but now, you and Nexus must be prepared and remain strong. Whatever the Predacons may throw at you, I will feel and fight it with you. I will help wrestle away the pain to the best of my abilities... until the time we come back to get you two.

She opened her optics and turned away. They needed to return back to the Axalon.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blackarachnia twisted her last conduit, which answered her hardwork with the sudden glow of purple, "Perfect." She smirked deviously. Though, she wished to tinker with it a bit more. Predacon insignias could be faked she knew that, but the motion sensors were her idea. No one should be able to know unless they heard it from her. Even if they did, they still wold have to find a way to deactivate the shields and bonds. Megatron should be pleased with the decor as well as the new and improved cells. Let's see how any Maximals, prisoner or not, try to outsmart this. She closed the door to the control panel with the sway of her hip. What was it in her work managing to put her in a good mood? She snickered abit. Plans swirled in her mind.

"Computer! Let's give this a shot." She turned everything off then stepped out. She took a breath, but she wasn't worried. She placed her insignia near the scanner. The compter answered in acknowledgement and opened it up. Good! Once the Maximals were in, all they had to do was leave and everything would be switched on.

OOC: Hope I didn't skip over anyone, late night again XD, and a Rubber Ducky to whoever correctly guesses what movie villain Megatron quotes in my new post

OOP wrote: Now Primal was about to panic. Watching Megatron raise his weapon at Cheetor and Banshee, trying to ignore the spider's horrific cackling, he almost took a step forward to plead with the TransMetal t-rex not to harm his Maximals, his optics wide for a moment of fear, but stopped himself just as his shots released their bonds and nothing more. Actually, he would have thrown himself in front of his weapon to stop Megatron from hurting them. Quickly, he tried to compose himself before Megatron might have noticed his reaction.

"Honestly Primal, how little you must think of me" Megatron said in the same tone of mock hurt he'd been using earlier, his face beaming with barely contained malevolent mirth, failing not to miss his old rival's near panic when he'd taken aim at his precious maximals.

"How do they survive as a faction?" Megatron pondered to himself for not the first time, how a faction as weak willed and bound by such silly sentiment could have kept his own people from their rightful place as Cybertron's true masters for so long, when threatening the life of one easily replacable minion was enough to stop them in their tracks? Pathetic, Primal wouldn't last a solar cycle on Chaar.

Naitokage wrote: As she pulled out her throwing knives, Umbra drew the tail weapon he confiscated from Cheetor off from his shoulder in a swift swing knocking the throwing blades out of her hand, then moved in with a slight crouch palm striking her stomach with his left hand, then stepping back as he swung the tail weapon down catching her ankle with the hook of the weapon tripping her up in a swift motion onto her head.

While this was happening, Cheetor transformed to his robot mode rushing towards Umbra with a cat like roar as he attempted to throw a punch, only to find the cephalopod step back and to the right catching Cheetor's arm with the tail weapon, locking Cheetor's arm and with a twist, throwing him into the ground hard.

Umbra made the tail weapon go slack as he swung it around like a nunchaku over his shoulder, across his back, to his other hand and shoulder, then swung it down as it went rigid stopping just inches from Cheetor's face, Your lives are already paid for!

Cheetor held his arms up with wide optics seeming to give up Whoa! Um.. can I have that back?

Umbra sighed, dropping the tail weapon to the ground, then spoke up Now stop making this any harder on them and go... Remember the sacrifices they made for you and honor their memory.. That's all you can do now.

Cheetor's optics narrowed sadly as he got up, picking up the weapon and putting it away. He felt completely helpless in the situation, but as screwy as the Predacon Ninja was, he was right. Cheetor and banshee were in no shape to go against the Predacons,he was just making it harder on Optimus since Optimus just wanted to see them go alive. He looked towards Optimus with a sad expression ... I'm sorry Optimus..

Cheetor then walked towards Banshee to help her up Come on.. lets go..


Umbra crossed his arms watching the two, shaking his head.

Megatron merely smirked and watched as Umbra made embarrassingly short work of Primal's underlings, shaking his head in pity at the poor little maximals, so full of spirit despite the reality of their situation, that of hopelessness, was staring them right in the face and practically screaming at them "Its over!"

He then lightly applauded the brief skirmish as though it had been a talent show put on for sparklings and said "Well done Umbra, yyyesss, good form. Can't say they didn't try Primal, no indeed. Now then, as for you two, valiant struggle and all, but I believe the phrase goes, "Get off my lawn?" Hhhmm? Yes? No? Whatever, just make yourselves scarce before I forget how generous I am at spark, understood? Good. Farewell."

OOP wrote:
I truly doubt that, thought Optimus when he almost sneered in disgust at Megatron's lousy attempt for a sincerely friendly and welcoming smile, but he kept a firm, blank face even as he felt Megatron's arm around his shoulders and glanced at Nexus again as the Predacon renegade sandwiched himself between them and started to walk. It was an obvious notion of him escorting them inside his ship almost effortlessly and full of pride and visual boasting toward his team of misfits. But Primal looked over his shoulder to Banshee and Cheetor one more time before the ominous entrance devoured in a seemingly pitch black shadow swallowed him as he entered the Predacon base.

"Quickly now gentlemen, let us see our guests to their rooms, shall we? They have traveled a long way just to enjoy our humble Predacon hospitality, we mustn't disappoint them, nnnooo" Megatron gloated, addressing Tarantulas, Inferno, & Umbra to accompany him back inside the base with prisoners in tow, adding "Arachnitron, be a dear and keep watch on our departing friends until they're out of our territory, just in case they get lost, yyyyessss."

Megatron tightened his grip around the necks and shoulders of his two prizes as they crossed the threshold of his base and stepped into the Darksyde, closing his ruby red optics in satisfaction as the entrance closed behind them, only to open again and pierce the shadows like twin hot coals, making him appear even more devilish than before within the gloom of his own domain. They were his now, all his, to do with as he pleased, so many deliciously painful and fatal possibilities, so little time...Megatron threw his head back and allowed himself a hearty laugh, one which echoed down the halls and shook the sparks of everyone present, maximal and predacon alike...Even Tarantulas found it unsettling as he followed the prisoner escort alongside Umbra and Inferno, silently observing Megatron's revelry.

Then slowly, deliberately, he turned to face Nexus, tilting his head to the side slightly like an artist admiring a picture he'd finally finished, or perhaps more accurately, a predator examining his prey, and turned to face Primal and do the same, the same smug smile never leaving his face as he activated the wheels on his feet, moved ahead of the group, turned to face them and calmly said "Make yourselves at home" before switching to beast mode and added softly "I have such sights to show you..." as he rolled backwards into the dark, tail swishing, his eyes and teeth glinting in the shadows, the only means by which to tell he was still there, like he was part of this place or vice versa...The Darksyde, truly an appropriate name for the lair of Megatron.

AdmiralGrim wrote: Staggering back from the being hit by this bot's own eyebeams, Night Terror quickly regain composure and began to parry the vicious attacks. He fired his own eyebeams at the bot with the higher pitched voice to keep him at bay.

Night Terror admired the Predacon's ferocity. But Night Terror preferred precision. As soon as he parried the next attack, Night Terror fired his eyepiece at his foes hand. He then quickly lunged at his enemy.

"RAWK! You punk!" Terrorsaur cursed as he dropped one of his blades, shaking his laser singed hand in pain, eyes widening in shock as the enemy lunged forward to stab him, Terrorsaur barely blocking with his one remaining blade, which he now wielded with two hands to better his grip and strengthen his defense.

Even still, the tip of the enemy's blade had pierced his torso's armor, nothing serious, but it had come DAMN close to running him through, if he'd been as slow as he used to be before the transwarp wave, he'd have been skewered. Terrorsaur, despite his new stats, was still new to swordplay, so this stranger's apparent skill in the art was an unwelcome surprise, and shook his confidence a little, but mostly irritated him...He was transmetal, the elite, the best! HOW COULD HE SUDDENLY BE ON THE DEFENSE?!

Naitokage wrote: Watching Terrorsaur fight with Night Terror, just as Night Terror made a lunge for his comrade, Waspinator opened fire with his toxic stinger in a rapid burst at Night terror's backside while giving a strange buzzing like laugh.

"Heheheheheheh, nice one Wasp" Terrorsaur said with a scrap-eating grin as he took this opportunity to put some distance between him and his opponent, deciding sword fighting was for suckers who lacked automatic weapons, and so he fired two energy signature seeking missiles at his enemy instead.

"Block that swashbuckler!" Terrorsaur jeered, looking forward to the sight of his enemy exploding in a big fireball of twisted molten slag.

"Get used to it," Dinobot responded ignoring the Predacon's obvious sarcasm. "The vermin is suffering from an incurable case of paranoia. He would put trackers on half the Maximal crew if he could."

Get used to it..

If those words had come from anyone else, they would have sounded insulting. But somehow hearing those words coming from a former Predacon amused her greatly, causing her smirk to widen ever so little and that gleam in her eye to brighten a bit.

"Is that what you did? Or have you spent so much time among these Maximals that you've forgotten your Predacon heritage?"

The words were only meant to tease, to cause a slight sting at best, since Nemesis was well aware of Dinobot's fallout with Megatron although she'd not been there to witness it personally. She didn't believe Dinobot would give her too hard of a time for being here, considering he had made a similar choice at the start of this war between the two factions present on this planet. Before she had a chance to taunt the ex-Predacon further, the all-too-talkative rodent spoke up.

"And fer good reason!" the rodent exclaimed. "If you thought I was a pain in de skidplate, Chopper Face, way till ya get a load of this chicken," Rattrap said as he pointed his thumb in Nemesis's direction. "Snide, smug, devious, nanobot infested freak,"

Unable to hold back a laugh at the rat's description of her, Nemesis then extended her left wing far enough to wrap it softly around the shorter male if only for a moment. "I guess I need to take that former statement back since it's hard to argue with such flattery. Although I'd be careful, little mouse, and not test my luck any further if I.."

A sudden noise from someone moving well within her comfort zone stopped her in mid-sentence, her form tensing as strong fingers entangled themselves in the transmetal feathers covering the back of her head, and her arm immediately went for her sai. However it was too late, the fingers contacting with the back of her head and swiftly pushing her down against a table. Nemesis let out a groan upon impact, feeling more than a little dazed for a moment, dark feathery wings draping her and the table. Her feet remained planted on the floor, not that it did her much good with her head and thus upper body pushed down against the table.

"Speak when spoken to"

Nemesis hissed menacingly at the demand, catching a glimpse of Ironclaw through the corner of her optic despite the feathers currently blocking her vision, her fingers now wrapping themselves around the shaft of her weapon.

You will regret that, she wanted to tell him, as a promise rather than a warning, but again fate would have it otherwise. The rodent had used the opportunity to attach something to her leg.

The tracking device snared tightly around her ankle, causing the avian female the jerk in a silent protest. But she didn't fight it, deciding that doing so would only be futile and result in further humiliation. It didn't seem like they intended to harm her, so she slowly removed her hand off the sai and waited impatiently for the giant badger to let her up. After he did, she straightened out and took a moment to glance down at the blinking device now attached to her.

"Why thank you, it's.. lovely..," she finally said after a moment, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Well.. not that she had expected anything less, but the tracking device's very existence already annoyed her.

"Tell me about this hallucinogen"

Aurora looked over at Ironclaw when he asked, shrugging her shoulders to indicate she knew about as much about the content of the broken vial as anyone else. She let her gaze linger on Ironclaw for a moment or two longer, not having seen him up close like this since he had been affected by the surge. He was much taller now, looked.. different.. whereas she had stayed exactly the same, at least physically. The size difference between the two was huge now and for a moment she worried he would accidentally step on her.

"I haven't had a chance to take a closer look at it yet so I really can't tell," she responded with a slight smile. She was glad Ironclaw hadn't been among the Maximals to perish in this war.

"Yeah, Aurora, you and Ironclaw go to the med bay an' see what you can do ta help Rhinox. Make sure Sonar doesn't escape again and spread more of this slagging hallucinogen.

The smile widened quite a bit at that, since Aurora looked forward to perhaps contributing towards a solution. "We're on it," she promised, gesturing for Ironclaw to follow her to the medical bay where Rhinox was waiting with Sonar. With Ironclaw around, she doubted Sonar would dare to do anything silly.

Dinobot, you stay here with me and Nemesis. The three of us know the Darksyde fairly well, but you especially," he said looking over his shoulder at Nemesis and pausing his attention on the video feeds, "have intimate knowledge on the details of the ship. We're gonna need a plan for a rescue mission. Start brainstormin'. Weaknesses, weapons, offense, defense, ambushes, da whole nine yards."

These fools actually thought they'd stand a chance to get Optimus back? Unlikely if not impossible.

"You'd be wasting your time. Optimus might very well already be dead," Nemesis responded while rolling her eyes. "And even if they're still alive, even if Megatron has granted them that mercy.. or doomed them to face torture as the case may be, you really would be better off by preparing your group for an impending attack. Megatron will not stop just two dead Maximals, noooooo." The last word was dragged out intentionally long, mimicking Megatron's characteristic speech pattern.

She paused for a moment, feeling the Maximals' optics on her, their disapproval of her even being here so evident it could almost be touched. Nemesis paid it no heed, avoiding looking at either of them as she continued.

"Megatron has had some time to prepare for this so he's no doubt been upgrading his holding cells and equipment. A frontal assault would be suicide.."


Another brief pause.

"If you really want my suggestion, I would lure them out of the base. Take them on and out a few at the time, set up traps, send smaller teams to intercept their soldiers.. whatever needs to be done to reduce their numbers."

Also, I wanna know more about this Darkwind guy.

The avian female's optics flashed red with anger upon hearing that name, memories of what this guy had done in such a short time frame flooding her thoughts.

"He's a backstabbing rat," she then replied before realizing the comparison she had made, a trace of amusement at her own observation flickering across her optics as she looked down at Rattrap again. "He showed up at our base, claiming he had stowed away on the Akira and caused it to crash. Said he escaped in a pod. He went out of his way to trick Megatron into assigning me to him as a mentor of sorts."

Silence.

Repeating the description Rattrap had used only a few moments before, Nemesis' voice was a lot quieter now.

"Snide, smug, devious, nanobot infested freak.."