The Intergalactic Highway

Steelclaw wrote:"Absolutely," "You're fired." "Don't worry about Waspinator." He turned back to the monitor, watching the alien scene unfold. "He gets set off real easy and blown up even easier. He's used to it."

Umbra blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck a bit sheepishly as he heard Steelclaw. I'll er.. get him a fruit basket or something then.

He then heard Megatron and the others start to show up. Seeing the somewhat taller tyrant walk in, he rolled his hand in front of himself bowing before Megatron I am simply Umbra. as he leaned up he smiled rather warmly You must be Lord Megatron I presume? I must say, you even bare some resemblance to your name sake. In any case, I have been informed by Sir Steelclaw here that you would be interested in hiring someone of my skill set, as a Cyber Ninja. While I would gladly like to discuss in detail about setting up a contract, it appears you have more pressing matters to attend to my liege, so I will do so when it is more convenient on your part.

He then bowed again, before leaving towards the hanger. As he walked pass Nemesis, his optic shift glancing over her for a moment, noticing the particular weaponry she carried.

Entering the hanger, he walked towards the stasis pod he carried in glancing over it. At the moment, it seemed it's only value was of components, and the sea water carried inside of it, which seemed rather valuable to this volcanic region. As he thought, his optics shifted towards Oynx who's aggravation was easily apparent to the Cephalopod, probably more noticeable from his own obsessive nature of studying others.

His build, scars, and the composure he held himself with were clearly different from the typical Predacon soldier or goon. Much like Nemesis, he appeared to also practice in a fighting art of sort, though the scars on his body would indicate a more sporting like nature. Perhaps he could learn something from this mech.

Walking almost silently towards Oynx, he stopped and smiled You seem troubled friend, perhaps I might interest you in a bit of a friendly spar to help clear your mind, or would you rather a little of this instead? one of his tentacles then moved holding up a large glass bottle of a almost clear looking oil with a slight glow to it, as well as two small square cups.

Our landlords, it seems, they are going to kick us out of this establishment... with a bang I presume. I guess they got tired of playing around and now, are taking a more direct approach.

Dinobot considered this news carefully. If the the light had indeed been revealing a weapon, then obviously something would need to be done. But what could be done, with that weapon being beyond the planet's atmosphere? Dinobot almost felt at a loss, but there was a grim sort of satisfaction to the whole situation; he had never been in a battle for survival against such an impressively powerful threat before.

For Cheetor, this was the farthest thing from a "challenge," and he just stopped himself from gasping out loud; it wouldn't have been the right response for just how scared he was anyways. What word would Dinobot use for this kinda situation... cata...clysmic?

We better head to base swiftly, I fear. Right now, the aliens have the first move. Maybe back at base, we will be able to find some way to stop it or at least survive whatever they are planning on doing to us.

"'Back to base' sounds like a plan," Cheetor answered. He motioned towards the basic direction of the Axalon, then started running somewhat slowly and checking over his shoulder from time to time, waiting for the other two to join him. Dinobot gave Whitegrazer a silent, business-minded look as if to say, "this is going to be interesting," and then began following after Cheetor.

* * *

Steelclaw took note of how quickly Umbra had realized Megatron's current state of mind and decided to leave the introduction brief. It actually made Steelclaw think twice about his own idea of taking away from the time that Megatron needed to think, but his was a question he couldn't just leave unanswered.

"Sir," he addressed Megatron quickly, "what's going on out there?"

Blackrose wrote: Arachnitron scowled at Blackarachnia's implications regarding her Predacon status. She crossed her arms over her chest plate.

"I'm not on some 'prove that I'm a Predacon' mission," Arachnitron interrupted with a touch of sass in her voice. "Because truth be told, I can't be called that anymore. My programming has been tainted. I can't be what I once was. I can't get back what I lost. So, I'm a little of both now."

She looked away from the other spiders feeling hot, painful anger course through her circuits. She hated to confess that to a Predacon, but she figured it would be common knowledge soon enough. Her optics were green now as Tarantulas pointed out earlier. If what he said is true, that means they were red earlier. Who knows how many Predacons saw her then and will notice the change. The Maximals already knew her secret thanks to that big ape....it was only a matter of time before the Predacons would know too. She could only hope they were off this planet before that happened.

She looked back at Blackarachnia, her tone no longer angry, but cold, flat and unemotional. "But should the Predacon in me take over again, I strongly recommend not speaking poorly about our tainted programming to her. She is not a force to be reckoned with. You'll be on your knees at Tarantulas' feet begging him to lock her up again," Arachnitron threatened.

She looked up and noticed that the second moon was changing. Her anger slipped away suddenly. She looked at the others. "If we're going to leave this planet, we better hurry!"

The two widows transformed to robot mode and readied their weapons.

Tarantulas enjoyed Arachnitron's barbs at Blackarachnia, especially the part about the begging at his feet, though he had to admit the idea of her other personalities returning were not favorable to him. Oh well, it didn't really matter, as soon as she helped him secure a means off the planet and killed Blackarachnia, Arachnitron's usefulness would be at an end...Pity, she was shaping out to be a rather effective pawn too.

"All good things must come to an end I suppose, heh heh" Tarantulas thought as he readied his own weapons and followed behind Arachnitron.

Una wrote: Blackarachnia saw the light vanish from the moon and smiled darkly at Arachnitron, saying nothing.

I will kill you both and I will get out of this doomed planet.

Blackarachnia allowed Arachnitron to go first, following Tarantulas' little drone. She held her weapon to the ready and when she peeked out, she joined Arachnitron beside her and aimed at the first Maximal she saw. From who she could tell, it was the former Predacon, Frilla. The former Predacon probably knew now something was wrong.

She fired her cybervenom at her and depended on Arachnitron to take care of the other Maximal looking over Frilla's shoulder.

Tarantulas hung upside down from the ceiling vent as the two widows fired their weapons at the two maximals present, Stinging them with cybervenom, something himself normally liked to do, poisoning maximals with high powered venom and watching them suffer and squirm before they died...But this time, they had no time for such pleasantries.

"Stand aside ladies" Tarantulas warned Arachnitron and Blackarachnia before opening fire on the two already poisoned maximals with his machine guns, ensuring that even if they recovered from the venom, they'd be in no shape to be chasing after them.

As he did all this, his drones went to work, some traveling down the hall in search of more Maximals, while others accessed the maximal's computers, hacking into Sentinel's systems in order to ascertain the location of the stasis pod storage room aboard the ship, working in unison to override Sentinel's impressive defenses.

"That's it my little ones, hurry now, we have little time to waste" he said as he plugged a data cord into one of his drones so he could download whatever data it collected, and he was not disappointed.

"Come ladies, our chariot awaits" Tarantulas crowed as he started down the hall, knowing exactly where he was going, turning back only once to say "Drones, make sure any maximals returning home to base receive a warm welcome, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

OOC: Hope this post works alright, let me know if I need to make any changes, whether it be in regards to Big T's use of his drones or the number of Maximals present on the bridge.

BTW, I have two more things to bring up...

1) would it be going overboard for the drones to turn Sentinel against the maximals upon their return? Or should they be reduced to nasty little pests meant to slow the Maxis down once they return to the bridge? Or an obstacle for Inferno?

2) I won't be posting anything new until Wednesday at the earliest because I'll be attending a wake tomorrow and a funeral Tuesday, sorry for any inconvenience.

OOC:

OOC: Hope this post works alright, let me know if I need to make any changes, whether it be in regards to Big T's use of his drones or the number of Maximals present on the bridge.

BTW, I have two more things to bring up...

1) would it be going overboard for the drones to turn Sentinel against the maximals upon their return? Or should they be reduced to nasty little pests meant to slow the Maxis down once they return to the bridge? Or an obstacle for Inferno?

2) I won't be posting anything new until Wednesday at the earliest because I'll be attending a wake tomorrow and a funeral Tuesday, sorry for any inconvenience.

Your post is great except for two little things.

1. Tarantulas didn't acknowledge Wintersong. She stuck her head around the corner just before your last post. But I suppose he can just notice them in your next post.

2. Feralnight is at the coordinates Arachnitron gave her. Should the drone start shooting her soon?

It's up to the Maximal about the arachnoids and what they should/should not do.....

BIC:

Blackarachnia and Tarantulas followed Arachnitron through the hatch at the top of the Maximal's base. They landed next to her and each took turns incapacitating the Maximal's in the bridge. They took out Frilla who had been working at the computers and the new Maximal as well. Hanging from the ceiling, Tarantulas joined in the fray.

DarkSpark wrote:"Stand aside ladies" Tarantulas warned Arachnitron and Blackarachnia before opening fire on the two already poisoned maximals with his machine guns, ensuring that even if they recovered from the venom, they'd be in no shape to be chasing after them.

Arachnitron took a step behind Tarantulas as he shot the already downed Maximals with his machine gun legs, just to be sure they'd stay down for a bit. Looking around, they saw no one else in the bridge and; thus, decided to head for the pods.

Tarantulas sent his arachnoid drones out into the hallway first and then beckoned for the black widows to follow him.

"Come ladies, our chariot awaits" Tarantulas crowed as he started down the hall, knowing exactly where he was going, turning back only once to say "Drones, make sure any maximals returning home to base receive a warm welcome, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!.

But just as they were about to leave the bridge, she noticed a Maximal peering around the corner to see what was going on. Wintersong wore a look of shock on her face as she noticed the havoc wreaked by the three spiders. She looked at Arachnitron in disbelief.

"Arachnitron?"She asked, finding herself unable to retaliate from the surprise and from her own guilt a few days before.

Arachnitron defensively crossed her arms over her chestplate knowing full well that the new insignia on her arm- the purple spider that appeared after Tarantulas installed the inhibitor chip- was facing Wintersong. Though it didn't give her any kind of energy signature, the insignia was more symbolic for her than anything else. She didn't care to belong to any group, but she did care that she was so torn between the Predacons and the Maximals. The spider insignia meant that she was neither. She didn't have to chose a side anymore.

She narrowed her optics at the white tiger and then said:

"Of all the Maximals in the bridge, you should be the least surprised to see me. You were the one who practically begged the Predacons to take me with them. I suppose I should thank you, rather than shoot you. If it weren't for you, I would be about to die with this planet like you are."

And with that she raised her cybervenom gun and pointed it towards Wintersong....

Ooc: sorry to be a pain but can the spiders not have noticed Ironclaw. He hasn't gone round this "corner" unlike Wintersong. Small changes would be appreciated .

((Sorry for the epic long delay in posting. My head is back in the game now!))

"Easy with de claws! Couldn't ya have given me a little more warning?!"

Airazor heard Rattraps screams below her as she grabbed him with her Talons. It had taken a long time to finally get used to Rattraps personality. He was an annoying, smelly rodent who complained about everything. Still, he was the best explosive and infiltration expert on the team and he was actually quite hilarious once you got used to him. Airazor chuckled at his remark and responded back. "I forgot that you weren't a real Rat." She said, reminding him that Falcon's enjoyed a good rodent for dinner once and a while. "Besides, I think the Alien's gave you enough warning!"

Flying back to base at full speed with Optimus next to her, she had some time to think to herself. She hadn't seen Tigatron in what felt like ages and she hoped that he found some success in locating Aurora. She was beginning to worry that they would never see her again and with these aliens around, that could spell bad news for a lone maximal in the wilds. Hopefully Tigatron saw the explosion of light from her location and knew enough to know that something was wrong. Hopefully he didn't worry much about her either.

I mean... Yes. Yes, I'm fine... considering the circumstances

Conversation brought Airazor back to reality and she listened to Optimus and Rattrap. Their leader sure was acting a little strange recently. He was likely just as worried about his sparks desire as much as she was with Tigatron.

"I hate it when he does that,"

Airazor simply shook her head at Rattrap. They still had a bit of a flight to go if they wished to get home before the world exploded. The other maximal's needed to know what was going on!

---

Manterror fled back to the Predicon base.

((Ooops, lunch break is over. Ran out of time. I think this is good enough though. haha)

OOC:

@ Alak....Darkspark says in her post that Tarantulas shot the two Maximals in the bridge and goes on to say something like, "even if they recover from the venom, they won't be getting up to follow the spiders." So, therefore, he shot Silverstreak and Frilla.

We have no idea who is in the bridge. No one would answer us when we asked about a dozen times. But in the interest of keeping things moving, we just went with it. If there are others, I guess we will have to go back and edit.

@ Mysteria: okay, I took Ironclaw out of the post. So sorry, I didn't even realize Wintersong "peered around a corner." I thought they were in the doorway or something.

And I think the little arachnoid drones are probably in the hallways by now seeking out other Maximals....

OOC: Don't wory, Ironclaw won't stay hidden long. i just wanted to actually reveal him rather than just being noticed. Plus I 'm not exactly sure what he's going to do. The biggest issue is whether he is going to escape or not - an issue totally up for discusion.

Alak wrote:((OOC: Even though I never mentioned it, just assume Rhinox is sitting in the bridge waiting to be ambused.))

((OOC: I mentioned that Rhinox was in the bridge on the last page, but I guess with two other Maximals down he'll just have to put up a fight! ))

IC:

Seeing two of his teammates shot down from the shadows, Rhinox was quick to turn around. His optics narrowed as he saw himself outnumbered by the spider Predacons. This situation was certainly not in his favor, and the probability scenarios running through his mind told him that he was doomed to fall as his comrades did. However, it did not mean he would go down without a fight.

"Tarantulas!" he growled.

Both chainguns whirled to life and the Maximal officer brought his weapons up from behind him. Accuracy was not a luxury Rhinox could afford in a lose-lose situation. High caliber rounds roared even before he had his weapons trained in the general direction of his foes. If he could not beat them, he would certainly do everything in his power to stall them.

OOC:

Alak wrote:

Alak wrote:((OOC: Even though I never mentioned it, just assume Rhinox is sitting in the bridge waiting to be ambused.))

((OOC: I mentioned that Rhinox was in the bridge on the last page, but I guess with two other Maximals down he'll just have to put up a fight! ))

So sorry! I did see that post, but I completely forgot about it! I guess Tarantulas will have to take care of him.

I did ask a while ago and Phoenix said about Ironclaw, Starshadow (where IS she by the way?), Steelclaw and Frilla. She wasn't sure about Rhinox and then you posted like two pages later to clear that up, but I guess it just didn't stick in my brain.

@NK: Also, in response to your question about the map...I went through the side saga thread and picked out a coordinate that someone else had used. lol. So the map isn't really necessary now, but I'm sure it would be neat to have one day.

(( OOC: Still wondering where Orcariner has gotten to...

I will try to post tomorrow night or Thursday night. Sorry for the delay. ))

"this is going to be interesting,"

She returned Dinobot's nod. This was going to be interesting, but it would be costly. If they only knew how it would end... some part of her wanted to tell, but most of her told her it was the right thing what she did. What the others didn't know couldn't hurt them.

It's the burden I have been forced to carry plenty of times in my years. I just don't wish it on anyone else. Seeing visions, trying to interpret them, to make sense of it all...it's better to not dwell on it. Though, this one was more straightforward. Most of the time, they weren't on her side.

All she could do was smile now. Like she had told herself to do...when times got dark and grim for everyone around her. She had to smile...for their sake and his as well.

As she was galloping, she tried to reach her master.

"TC?"

Nothing, but she could still feel his presence. Her master was there yet silent.

"Talk to me."

A flash silhoutte of her master appeared briefly. His back turned to her and she knew what that meant... he wasn't going to be talking anytime soon.

Why wasn't he talking to her? For a long time, he never distances himself to her. Seeing him going into such a state made her curious and firm.

"TC."

Silent. Again.

There was a very sharp, heavy sigh that came from her master seconds later.

"Master."

A flash and suddenly, chains appeared around her master with locks shaped like sparks.

"There is nothing to discuss."

Then he was gone. She hated that feeling. She wanted answers and her master wasn't talking and that meant he knew something. What was it? What was he hiding? After all this time, he held something back from her. Her feelings searched landing on a conclusion: the aliens. It had to be. She searched through her connection with Optimus, feeling his confusion and overwhelming emotions. She realized she must be the blame for it: the connection they shared also shared the burdens deep within their souls. There was something else other than that: worry. Concern for his crew, which she understood, but a deep concern for her. Why? She hoped her signals through their connection would show he had nothing to concern about for her.

Everything is going to be fine. I know that. I feel it.

She whispered that to herself, not in denial but in determination based on her optimistic nature and what she had seen. She whispered that to every connection she had.

We will be okay...Optimus.

She knew based on her many experiences in life, everything will work out in the end.

She kept that smile.

_______________________________________________________________________


Blackarachnia was glad to see they were making progress but more Maximals were coming. She blamed that at Tarantulas' shooting. She used the middle platform as a cover as she reloaded her cybervenom. Well, looks like she would have to face a bulletstorm now. So much for stealth.

Just as she thought there would be no more Maximals, Rhinox jumped in to use his machine guns of doom, cornering her. She growled as bullets zipped past her. It would be suicide to jump out until he was too distracted to notice her.

Blackrose wrote: Your post is great except for two little things.

1. Tarantulas didn't acknowledge Wintersong. She stuck her head around the corner just before your last post. But I suppose he can just notice them in your next post.

2. Feralnight is at the coordinates Arachnitron gave her. Should the drone start shooting her soon?

It's up to the Maximal about the arachnoids and what they should/should not do.....

OOC: Crap, missed Wintersong, I'll take note of her this turn though , and if Ironclaw wishes, I can alter my original post so that Big T shot him down along with the others, unless he actually wishes to put up a fight, let me know.

And yep, the drone should make its move now that Feralnight has reached it, though I think the plan was for it to self-destruct (do you need me to control the drone for that scene?)

Blackrose wrote: Arachnitron defensively crossed her arms over her chestplate knowing full well that the new insignia on her arm- the purple spider that appeared after Tarantulas installed the inhibitor chip- was facing Wintersong. Though it didn't give her any kind of energy signature, the insignia was more symbolic for her than anything else. She didn't care to belong to any group, but she did care that she was so torn between the Predacons and the Maximals. The spider insignia meant that she was neither. She didn't have to chose a side anymore.

She narrowed her optics at the white tiger and then said:

"Of all the Maximals in the bridge, you should be the least surprised to see me. You were the one who practically begged the Predacons to take me with them. I suppose I should thank you, rather than shoot you. If it weren't for you, I would be about to die with this planet like you are."

And with that she raised her cybervenom gun and pointed it towards Wintersong....

Tarantulas noticed Arachnitron had stopped following him and turned back to observe the conversation going between the two former comrades, his spark filling with wicked glee as she raised her cybervenom launcher towards her.

"Ah, always so sad to see old friends go their separate ways, heh heh heh" he allowed himself to muse, until...

Alak wrote: Seeing two of his teammates shot down from the shadows, Rhinox was quick to turn around. His optics narrowed as he saw himself outnumbered by the spider Predacons. This situation was certainly not in his favor, and the probability scenarios running through his mind told him that he was doomed to fall as his comrades did. However, it did not mean he would go down without a fight.

"Tarantulas!" he growled.

Both chainguns whirled to life and the Maximal officer brought his weapons up from behind him. Accuracy was not a luxury Rhinox could afford in a lose-lose situation. High caliber rounds roared even before he had his weapons trained in the general direction of his foes. If he could not beat them, he would certainly do everything in his power to stall them.

"Slag, the jolly green giant, how'd we miss that brute!?" Tarantulas hissed as he flung himself toward the bridges command table to avoid being blown apart by Rhinox's bullet, firing his cybervenom launcher as he did.

He then proceeded to tip the consul over so he could use it as a shield for cover, even as two of his little drones changed course and skittered toward Rhinox stealthily from both sides....

Una wrote: Blackarachnia was glad to see they were making progress but more Maximals were coming. She blamed that at Tarantulas' shooting. She used the middle platform as a cover as she reloaded her cybervenom. Well, looks like she would have to face a bulletstorm now. So much for stealth.

Just as she thought there would be no more Maximals, Rhinox jumped in to use his machine guns of doom, cornering her. She growled as bullets zipped past her. It would be suicide to jump out until he was too distracted to notice her.

Tarantulas was torn between hoping Blackarachnia would keep the maximal distracted and draw his firepower long enough for him to counterattack, and hoping Rhinox would kill her for him so he'd have one less accomplice to terminate before he escaped the planet.

So many options, so little time.