(( OOC: Joint post between Phoenix and I for a flashback with Optimus, Nexus and Zodiac. Find out the connection of their pasts and why Optimus can't recall the shapeshifter that hunts him now. Dun, dun, duuuuuuuun! ))
Nexus was deep in thought as he looked over the data they had managed to gather on the situation at hand. He looked as if he hadn't rested for days, his face serious and optics tired. Still he wouldn't be able to rest for a while, not until he could be certain the issue had been resolved. Hopefully Optimus would arrive soon so that he could update his trusted lieutenant on recent events.
-
Barging in, Optimus was slightly out of breath having weaved his way through other Cybertronians who were crowding the corridors during his jog, heeding his teacher's call for his assistance.
"There's panic in the air," he warned Nexus Prime.
"What's happening?" he inquired.
-
Nexus looked up as Optimus entered, his exhausted optics centering on the younger male.
"Outpost 62 has been attacked," he responded almost immediately,
"The situation is chaotic but from what little intel we've been able to gather we know they are holding hostages.." The weary warrior drew a deep sigh, the situation having escalated recently and with it any hopes of settling things peacefully had gone down the drain.
The attackers had not seemed very professional, making many mistakes along the way, but outpost 62 was a peaceful settlement with no reason to have many armed guards.. Until now at least. The settlers had been easy targets, and now they were being held for ransom. Nexus felt tremendously guilty for not having provided them with better defenses, alas his concerns had been elsewhere until now.
-
The younger Maximal sensed the concern in the Admiral's voice and saw the exhaustion in his optics. If Nexus was worried, then it had to be serious. And serious it was if there had been attacks hostages were involved.
"Who are the suspects? What do you need me to do?" asked Optimus, who was ready to volunteer and jump in to help. He was prepared to do whatever Nexus would ask of him. He trusted him and his judgement. Not to mention that Outpost 62 lacked the security and defense to ward off intruders and attacks. Optimus couldn't fathom why anyone would bring harm to a rather peaceful place like that. It was horrible, and he saw the guilt written on the elder's face.
-
Nexus nodded, grateful that his younger friend was there. Although he was not going to send Optimus there. He couldn't. Optimus was young and inexperienced, and very far from disposable. He didn't want to risk losing him, the one that he cared for like a son. Instead he had made other arrangements..
"I need you to hold down the fort for me for a little while," he started, flicking a switch to start up a video on the monitor.
"I've already dispatched the subject to deal with the situation. Yes, I know we planned to run more tests before we sent him out by himself, but right now he's our best option. His unique abilities will allow him to infiltrate the terrorists where he has strict orders to take out as many as he has to in order to save the civilians."
The elder bot straightened out and took a couple steps forward, his limp apparent as he walked towards the window while the video had started playing in the background. On the screen the video was showing the shapeshifter doing swift and quite frankly remarkable changes to his form on command as one of his handlers saw fit. Nexus had seen the video so many times before he knew each change by heart by now.
Once at the window, Nexus stared out at the night sky. It was strangely soothing to him, and often he had wondered what it would have been like to be an adventurer instead of a soldier.. Allowed to go to faraway worlds and just explore. But a soldier he was and had been for as long as he could remember, And a soldier he would be until his dying breath. For the moment he was content just staring out at the stars, waiting for the video to finish playing in the background. As it did, Nexus commented in a lower than usual voice;
"I gave him a name, did I tell you that? "
-
Perhaps a slight bit of disappointment crossed the younger bot's optics, but he understand why Nexus ordered him to stay put. He wasn't so certain about sending out their subject, though. Optimus didn't feel that he was ready. Of course, watching the changeling on the screen would make anyone think otherwise. His abilities were truly incredible and eye-catching. The shorter Maximal nodded to Nexus in acknowledgement and obeyed his command.
"As you wish," he said with confidence and purpose while looking at his mentor's back who stood facing the window and looking up at the starry sky.
While Nexus was branded to war, Optimus was destined for exploration. He was determined to have his own vessel and crew and couldn't wait to venture out into space to find new worlds and learn new things, maybe even meet new beings and life forms. It was exciting to him. The wonder of it all seemed to be something both he and Nexus had in common. Optimus often stared at the sky in curiosity and sifted through files of worlds already documented by previous explorers, and their history with Earth and its inhabitants.
When the video screening ended, Nexus spoke again in a somewhat mysterious voice, asking him if he had told him the name he had given to their subject.
"No, you didn't tell me. What have you decided on?"
-
Nexus paused for a moment before continuing, silently wondering if he should have requested Optimus to join him at an earlier stage of the hostage situation. He really had tried to avoid burdening the younger apprentice with it, hoping it would be a quick fix. But unfortunately the terrorists were heavily armed so the initial attempts at regaining control had failed. It was only then the admiral had decided to involve Optimus since he neeeded someone he could trust to oversee the progress now that he was simply getting too tired to do it. He had defied the urge to rest for too long and now he was struggling as a result.
The admiral's optics were drawn to a particularly clear batch of stars in the sky and he crossed his arms while watching them.
"I named him Zodiac," he finally told Optimus,
"For his abilities are as diverse as the night sky. Figured it fitting.. and only fair that he has a name now that he's out there on a mission that may very well take his life. " Indeed. The subject was still primarily a tool at their disposal, someone whose soul purpose was to obey their command. Thus far all tests had been promising in that regard.
-
"Zodiac?" Optimus repeated thoughtfully, and then nodded in agreement.
"That's a good choice. It's definitely fitting for his uniqueness. Did he accept it?" he pondered out loud, unable to keep himself from relating to their lab rat. After all, he was still a living, breathing sentient being, like them. This experiment was Nexus' pride and joy, possibly one of his greatest accomplishments aside from his won wars and received medals of recognition. It was a great and honorable responsibility for Optimus to remain there and oversee everything while everyone else dealt with the attacks and hostage situation. He certainly hoped no one would perish.
-
Nexus nodded as he turned back to Optimus.
"He was agreeable to the name." Then again the shapeshifter had not attempted to oppose them in any way since that fateful day when the attempted reprogramming had turned out to be successful. Still the admiral kept him at a distance, never fully accepting him as anything more than a prisoner of war now working for them. Perhaps it was still too soon, or perhaps there was still that lingering grudge against the terrible things the shapeshifter had done to the Maximals before he was captured. Most of all the fact that during the many meetings he had with him since then, the rebellious shapeshifting teenager had never seemed apologetic for what he had done.
"At any rate I need you to monitor his movements during this mission. He's been given orders to report back regularly so that you can assess the situation from afar."
-
Possibly the biggest differences between Optimus and Nexus, beside their age, was the younger bot's eagerness and willingness to forgive, value life no matter who it was, his innocence, and his inexperience. At any rate, while Optimus treated their subject more like a fellow bot, Nexus obviously disassociated him from himself and their kin and continued to see him as a weapon and an experiment. It was almost a wonder that he had given him a name at all. But Optimus refrained himself from debate and arguing with the one who knew better than he did. There was no sense bickering or wasting time on such a matter. Besides, Nexus was his elder and higher ranking officer, so he was cooperative and respectful to him.
"Understood. I can handle that," Optimus assured the Admiral.
"And if he refuses to comply at any point?"
-
Nexus' voice hardened a bit as he responded to Optimus question.
"At the first sign of disobediance, he is to return so that they can re-inforce the programming." He didn't think it would be a problem, though. The testing the changeling, now named Zodiac, had undergone had been extensive. Any signs of a failing programming would have been noticed by now, of that Nexus was sure. His team had invested a lot in this project and Nexus' own reputation was at stake so he had every reason to want it to succeed.
"I don't think you need to worry yourself about that, Optimus. Just follow his progress and should anything go wrong you can deactivate him remotely using the built in failsafe codes we gave him." He smiled briefly at his younger friend,his eyes revealing just how badly he needed to rest.
"You've come a long way, Optimus.. I wouldn't put you in charge of this if I had any doubts about your abilities. One day you will lead the Maximals, I'm sure of it, so think of this as a way to test yourself. And try not to worry, we will get this situation resolved."
-
"Of course," Optimus responded immediately, a tad embarrassed by his inquiry that was clearly unnecessary to have asked in the first place. His doubts still lingered despite how much faith he wanted to have in this whole operation, especially with Nexus.
Everything that his teacher said next did well to calm his nerves and reassure him of both the situation and what he was capable of. Test myself? he repeated in his mind, and agreed. Nexus was right. This was a big step for both of them. Optimus could do this; piece of energon cake. However, the fatigue he could see clouding the Admiral's optics was evident.
"Thank you, Nexus. I feel I'm ready to take on more responsibilities. As for you... I'm not so sure you should be tackling this right now without getting some rest first. You've been at it nonstop for days."
-
Smiling a bit at the gesture, Nexus grudgingly agreed.
"You're right. I have been neglecting myself amongst my responsibilities. I'll leave them in your capable hands for a while. But don't hesitate to get me should you feel you need to. I'm always here when you need me," the older warrior reassured him before retreating to his personal quarters for some much needed rest. Meanwhile Zodiac's location signal beeped on the monitor, indicating that he had arrived at his destination and was proceeding with the next phase of the operation. A brief report about his progress arrived as well.
-
"Will do." Optimus returned the smile, watching Nexus finally admit defeat and step out to acquire that rest that he had kept denying himself. He briefly shook his head, unable to understand why some bots push themselves so hard that they deprive themselves of sleep and rest when it was so important. But Nexus was a bit of workaholic. Optimus was relieved that he finally took his advice.
A specific beeping caught his attention, so he stepped to the monitor to watch Zodiac's progress and whereabouts. So far, all was well and he was abiding his programming. The younger Maximal hoped that everything would end well with Zodiac's help, and the hostages would be released unharmed.
-
For a while everything went according to plan. Zodiac ventured further into the occupied base, using his unique talents and abilities to disguise himself wisely. It wasn't until he reached an area where it seemed likely that many of the terrorists were hiding, that the location beacon suddenly disappeared from the monitor. Along with it any further updates on the progress went missing as well.
-
Optimus remained diligent while on duty, watchful optics never leaving the monitor. That is, until the shapeshifter's location suddenly stopped transmitting. A little concerned, Optimus leaned in closer to the screen and waited patiently for it to return. Maybe there was interference, or Zodiac had been injured. All of this was a trial right now with the changeling's first time in the field.
"This is Optimus. I need a location from Zodiac," he ordered from anyone involved in the operation.
"Zodiac? Status report. I'm not reading your beacon." He waited a little longer, trying to avoid alerting Nexus just yet.
"Does anyone copy me?"
-
An eerie silence greeted him as the computer attempted to reconnect to Zodiac's signal without success. A few moments later a scurry voice patched through. It was one of the scientists who'd been considered Zodiac's handlers since his stay with the Maximals had started.
"I read you, Optimus," the voice sounded, albeit a bit distorted,
"We're still trying to re-establish contact with the subject but so far we've been unable to do so. It's as if he just.. vanished," the voice explained.
The radio signal abruptly got worse until all Optimus could hear was static, as if something was blocking the transmission.
-
He waited... and waited. He tried to remain calm. And then finally, a voice of explanation. He tried adjusting the frequency to hear the individual better but it didn't help.
"Vanished?" he questioned.
"Unacceptable. I want eyes on him NOW," Optimus demanded.
"Do you read me?" he asked.
"I said, do you read me?" Nothing. He swallowed and took a step back from the monitor. Instinct told him to contact Nexus.
"Nexus, this is Optimus. We have a situation. Something's wrong. We've lost contact with Zodiac and the team... I'm trying to reestablish the transmission." He did so frantically, everything he could think of with troubleshooting, but he seemed to be unsuccessful.
-
Nexus had been sound asleep when Optimus hailed him, so his voice sounded quite groggy when he responded.
"What did you say? The team's gone missing?!" A brief pause as Nexus sat up abruptly, now wide awake despite how little rest he'd been able to catch up on.
"I'll be right there, Optimus." Within minutes he walked back into the room, his optics surveying the monitor briefly but it only confirmed Optimus' story.
"By the Pit..," Nexus uttered before turning back to Optimus.
"We need to send someone in to pull them out. We cannot afford to lose anyone else." He sighed as he locked optics with Optimus.
"Go. Take a team and get them out. If you find Zodiac on your way, bring him back as well. Obviously our people is the priority. "
-
He wasn't fond of interrupting Nexus' rest, his slow and gravely voice was proof that he had been fast asleep, but this was rather pressing. It didn't take the veteran long to show up, even with his limp. Optimus was clearly worried but not quite panicking yet. He was far more calm when Nexus arrived to assess the situation, although he wasn't expecting him to say what he did next.
His optics unwavering to Nexus', he nodded and said,
"Consider it done." With haste, he left the Admiral, and on his way he stopped by some higher ranking officers and security, immediately recruiting them to his mission.
"All of you are with me. One of our teams is missing at Outpost 62. Search and rescue," he informed them, and without any arguments, the group of them headed out to help the others.
Upon arrival, there was devastation everywhere. Optimus scanned the area in horror as his group slowly proceeded toward the last known coordinates of Zodiac and the team accompanying him. There were fires everywhere that lit up the night, creating dancing shadows that played tricks on his optics. They moved cautiously. There were various smells among the cracklings of the fiery mess. They came across some bodies and Optimus held his hand to his mouth, covering it in a gasp and great sadness. This was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
"Nexus, we're at ground zero... It's awful... Destruction. Lives have been lost," he radioed with a weary voice. His team moved forward.
"I fear we won't be bringing back anyone alive... We're searching for Zodiac." Assuming his transmission would even reach Nexus back at headquarters. Optimus' spark sank with every dead Cybertronian he came across, stepping lightly and glancing around for the shapeshifter who they presumably didn't come across yet.
"Zodiac?" he called out for him. His optics searched along the damage and wreckage. He had a bad feeling about this. Their team started to spread out a little.
-
Again there was no response to Optimus' transmission, just that faint scratchy sound like before. There was nothing indicating whether the transmission had gone through or not, no way for Optimus to tell. And soon enough his team had spread out far enough that they were no longer in clear sight of each other. The fires seemed to be picking up, a few of the victims about to be engulfed by the fires as well. The entire area smelled of death, decay , and burnt remains. A sudden squeal echoed through the complex, then died as suddenly as it had appeared. Some columns holding up a section of the roof looked like they were about to collapse. Underneath an armed terrorist lay in a heap, part of his armor looking like it had eroded away.
A noise alerted Optimus that he wasn't alone, but only a nanoclick before a heavy, blunt force hit him hard in the occipital region of the back of his head, just above the neck.
-
Optimus was alone now with the animated shadows, focused on finding any survivors in the debris. Shock and fear were starting to take control. Is this what Nexus saw so much of during his battles? It was horrific. He was as careful as he could. Every body he started coming across he would kneel down and check their vitals. But one after another was the same result. Death every where... How did this happen? Who did this? He cringed and wiped a tear away from his optic as he continued.
A shriek nearby caused him to stop dead in his tracks. His optics frantically searched for the alleged victim but he couldn't find him. He realized then how alone he really was...
"Report, team. Do you copy?" Looking around in the fires, there was no one there.
"Nexus, can you hear me?" Alone and scared for he had never been put in a position like this before. Death surrounding him...
In a split second, he heard something right by him, but he wasn't given enough time to find out what or who it was. Just like that, feeling something strike him in the back of the head, everything went black and silent. His body fell limp and collapsed where he stood, unconscious. He laid their vulnerable and helpless.
-
The fire was now running rampant, rapidly approaching a small fuel supply not far from Optimus' current location. The entire area was about to become a flaming inferno. A pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around Optimus, tugging at him if a bit frantically. His savior recognized the situation and pulled him towards safety as swiftly as he could. It was Nexus that had come searching for him after getting a partial transmission without being able to respond. As they passed the collapsed communication tower it became abundantly clear why nothing was going through. Still Nexus had no time to ponder it at the moment, his entire focus on getting Optimus to safety.. Away from the pending explosion.
-
The movement rattled Optimus' systems to reboot. He slowly came to, looking dazed and confused. The scents flooded in, suddenly registering where he was and who was with him.
"Nexus...?" he muttered, trying to look at him but his vision was blurry and disoriented.
He didn't know where he was or what was going on. He was relieved to see Nexus but didn't know why. How he ended up where they were was beyond him.
-
Finally at a safe distance, Nexus released his grip on Optimus' arms and knelt down next to him. He gently stroked his hand over his protege's forehead, genuinely relieved that he had made it in time. Unfortunately the rest of the crew had not been so lucky, all of them either missing or dead by the time he got there. And given the choice he had decided to focus his efforts on Optimus, feeling guilty for having sent him in there in the first place. No doubt Optimus had seen the same horrors that Nexus himself saw when he went in to save him, but somehow he doubted that Optimus was as readily equipped to handle such impressions. Nexus silently vowed to have his best psychiatrists work on Optimus to assure that those memories would not resurface, that this entire catastrophy remained forgotten so that Optimus could continue his carreer unphased by what had happened here.
"It's okay, son," he reassured his younger friend,
"You'll be all right."
-
"All right? I don't understand," admitted Optimus despite his mentor's smooth reassurance.
"What happened? Where are we?" He looked around after Nexus swiped his hand over his forehead, still confused. There was a tremendous throbbing coming from the back of his head, and he reached back to gently rub the spot that was swollen and pounding.
"What happened?" he repeated with more frustration. He couldn't remember.
-
Nexus glanced up as a couple of field medics came rushing towards them, one of his arms holding Optimus up a bit while the other kept his head still. His protege looked up at him, confused and obviously in some pain. And of course he wanted to know what happened.
"I'll explain it all to you soon," he promised as he let the medics take over. They rushed Optimus onto a hoverboard so that they could take him back to base and treat his injuries. Nexus watched as they rushed off with, keeping a brave face for as long as Optimus was within eyesight. On the inside, however, he was crumbling. His soldiers lay dead inside the complex, as did a number of civilian hostages.. And Zodiac had gone missing without a trace, probably dead from an ambush. Still.. there was no way to be sure.
But perhaps worst of all was the knowledge that he had just lied to Optimus for the very first time. For Nexus had no plans to tell his young partner about what had happened here, in fact he planned to keep the entire ordeal hidden from him.. to protect him. Optimus truly was like a son to him and somehow Nexus knew that the knowledge of what had just happened would destroy him.
-
The younger Maximal was reluctant to leave Nexus while he was escorted away and put on to a hover board by the medical officers. He kept his optics on him as the distance grew between them, still lost and saddened about the situation. Why couldn't he remember? Why was his head hurting so much? Did someone hit him? Why wouldn't Nexus tell him? He didn't understand. He frowned when he could no longer see Nexus, his rescuer. He didn't fight the medics, they simply transported him from wherever he as to the hospital for repairs and a full body scan. No one would answer his questions.
((End flashback))
-----
Optimus watched Zodiac recreate the scar across his mouth and then heal it on a whim. His face remained neutral but inside he was growing angrier and angrier with this mischievous changeling.
"Optimus.. I was wondering when you would show up," "I'd offer you a place to sit but.. well.."
Witnessing his own voice coming from this master of replication was eerie to say the least. He was, without a doubt and in every way possible, an exact replica. And he was relishing in it, so cocky, so full of himself. Maybe it was time for someone put him in his place and remind him that he wasn't as great as he thought he was. Oh, the ego.
"Why are you here, hmm?" "Given the fact your lackeys haven't bothered keeping me sedated, dare I guess you're here to ask some questions?"
"Figure that out all on your own?" Optimus asked him both sarcastically and rhetorically, growing tired of his attitude.
"Your grand failure using me to terminate my own Maximals leaves me to believe that you aren't as extravagant as you claim yourself to be, so I see no point in keeping you sedated. Unless I grow weary of your voice. You see, I no longer fear death because I've already faced it on the other side." Of course, what he
did fear was his crew members losing their lives. He looked at Rhinox who was holding a remote for the make shift cage. It controlled the force field as well as the electricity. Primal held out his hand and snapped his fingers, impatiently signaling his friend to hand the remote to him.
Rhinox, having picked up on their leader's light limp and the nasty scar on his face when he entered, not to mention basically ignoring him and Aurora, hesitated to give the remote to him. Surely he wasn't planning on torturing him to get information out of him... He had to trust him, though, so he stepped over to the newly repaired Maximal and put the remote in his hand.
"Aurora, keep an eye on Blackarachnia," the chief medical officer appointed to the young Fuzor in case the spider would wake up and try anything, or if Tarantulas would take control of her again, though she was still bound and unarmed.
"Looks like I'm not going anywhere for a little while so you might as well ask.. Of course you may not like some of the answers.."
"That depends," Primal said while studying the remote and learning quickly as to how it worked.
"I just don't know if you're capable of being honest. But perhaps this will motivate you." He looked at Zodiac with a small, tight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth; the same mockery he was giving the Commander just moments before. Starting off a little kinder than Zodiac deserved, Optimus sent a lower frequency of electrocution to the cage, the voltage traveling through the water at his feet quicker than a split second and zapping the changeling and his nanite technology.
Whitegrazer was sensing a change in the air... Was it a change in him? Perhaps. Maybe he was just putting on a show. Anyone around him right then - Rhinox, Aurora and Zodiac - could attest to his serious and intolerant demeanor but it was very difficult to tell what lengths he was willing to go to at this point... He could feel the equine hanging on to his spark but it didn't bother him. For now, he allowed it. Besides, he was far too distracted to get the answers he sought from this other Optimus Primal before him.
The engineer took a step toward Optimus again, not approving of what he was doing, but Primal shot him a glare as soon as he noticed him move and briefly held up the palm of his hand at him to tell him to stop. Rhinox did so with his own glare, and decided to wait and see how far he would take this. Optimus then looked back at Zodiac.
"Let's start off with your own question first. Why are you here? Who sent you?" he asked the shapeshifter.
"How did you find us, and why are you trying to kill my crew and me?"
-----
"If you have the guts to face me without hiding behind a force field, I might just show you what other tricks I can do,"
Rattrap had laughed at that and didn't give the shapeshifter the satisfaction of releasing him and getting his skid plate kicked just to prove a point. Forget that. He wasn't
that dumb. And he certainly wasn't going to slip up now and let this guy wreak more havoc on them.
"Understood. Let's go Rattrap,"
The rodent was cautious as he exited the
Axalon and made his way to the lake in his vehicle mode. He glanced up at Banshee to find her location in the sky before maximizing and wielding his gun. He was still a little far from Cheetor and Landslide's last known position so he could try to sneak up to whatever might have been unfolding. It shouldn't be hard considering all of the gunfire he could hear close by. He started jogging and came across some cover of large boulders. Peering around them, he tried to see who was involved and what was going on.
"What do ya see from up there, Banshee?" he radioed to her in the air.
"Kinda looks like Dirge. He's got Cheetor?" Then he watched Landslide fire off his grenade launcher, acid spraying everywhere. He wasn't sure that was such a good idea with Cheetor in such close proximity but he waited to see what would happen before intervening...
)