The Intergalactic Highway

Not dead yet...Aurora had quite a way with words on that one. "A lot of emphasis on the yet." Wintersong responded before she had made her move, referencing their present conditions before they had been thrown into this battle. They had been fortunate enough they hadn't faced any further injury, but with Terrosaur lingering around that could easily have changed.

Luckily, it seemed they had gotten the drop on the flier, who growled as he was struck by a few of the Transmetal tigress' mini missiles. They gave enough force behind them to knock him off balance right into Aurora's barrage of blasts next. Squawking in surprise, the Predacon did the only thing he could think of in this moment and rolled away from the chance of more gun fire raining down on his already sore body, finding some cover of his own large enough to crouch behind, expecting the two to follow. But, it was at that moment Megatron gave an order he didn't seem to mind following, "Can't believe I'm relieved for a retreat."

Transforming to beast mode, Terrorsaur finally took to the skies, firing a few warning shots to the two females but not striking them as he made his way to follow his fellow Predacons.

Seeing Terrorsaur move for cover, Wintersong stopped her attempts to fire again, waiting to see what the flier would do, "Think you're right." She answered, glancing at the smaller female with a shrug, "Or Megatron was really desperate for a crew," She mused, wondering if Megatron really had been dealt a hand with a crew that only half of their numbers had a working processor. Though she quickly turned her attention back to Terrorsaur as he took the skies, stepping back a step or two as the warning shots rained down towards them but otherwise the Transmetal flier didn't seem intent on hitting them. Moments after the Predacon had retreated, the two were told by Optimus to join the rest, "Be there in a moment Optimus, we were taking care of a pest problem." Wintersong told him, glancing at Aurora once more before making her way to regroup with the others.

Lifting his head when he heard someone call his name, Tigerhawk finally forced himself to sit up from where he had crashed among the debris, spotting Rhinox hurrying his way. "I'm here Rhinox!" Tigerhawk called, grunting softly as he began to move, somewhat unsteady but pushing through the pain as he got to his feet. "Little rustier than I thought." The large fuzor examined the damage done to his frame, having not been this damaged in a long time since his earlier career, "And I most likely won't be flying any time soon."

Least, from what he could see he wouldn't be.

"Already on my way." Spineback responded to Nemesis, coming to Megatron's side by the time she had finished her exchange with the avian. Coming beside their downed leader, she couldn't help shaking her head at the damage done, "Hope you don't have plans for the next week my liege, you won't be doing a lot of strenuous activities for a few days in your condition." Spineback spoke, wondering if Megatron was coherent enough at this point to hear anything she had just said. But, she was already beginning to move one of his arms over her shoulders, intending to help move him which by then Nemesis herself had arrived.

Additional shots landing near them though cause the Spinosaurus femme to snarl, lifting her gaze to see the renegade trying to get the last move in. Somehow he continued to thrive and live long enough to always try to get the last word in, "Your continued protection of that sorry pile of scrap might be your undoing one day Maximals." Spineback remarked, for now focusing and getting Megatron up and away from the battle field with Nemesis's help, more concerned for her own teammates than Zodiac, for now.

They were retreating?

Rampage lifted his head enough to look at the twisted wreckage of the Viper, a part of him wondering if his so called partner had perished with it or still lived. And who exactly had his now splinter spark? Both sides seemed intent on having him destroyed or captured and under their control and taking out the ship at the same time, now the ultimate prize was gone and that left one question for the Transmetal crab: who was in control of his fate? Perhaps for the time being he would have to play the waiting game and find out for himself if Megatron had it, but probably at the cost facing imprisonment or enslavement once again. Such a thought made him internally grimace, but he didn't have much of a choice.

"I can assure you insect, soon enough you will know what true fear is." Rampage promised with a low growl, forcing himself to his shaky legs before transforming to his crab mode. With rage burning in his immortal spark, Rampage heeded Inferno's words of them retreating and followed to group with the Predacons.

Nemesis had growled when the deceptive changeling decided to use them for target practice, an act that caused her to spread her wings to use them as shields as she knelt down next to their wounded leader. A few of the shots buried themselves in her make-shift wing shield, leaving a pained grimace on her face as her nanomachines got to work on healing her as rapidly as the shots penetrated their target. Of course it didn't seem as if Zodiac was really trying to harm any of them, as his shots were too scattered for that and were more than likely meant to prompt the Predacons' departure from this place.

"I can't wait to rip each of that traitor's limbs away from the rest of his body," she muttered in anger when the renegade finally ceased his assault for a moment. Of course it wouldn't be that simple now that Optimus would no doubt offer him shelter.. Even after everything the traitor had done. Yes, it was unlikely even Zodiac could talk his way out of some serious jail time, true, but Maximal prisons held a higher standard than what that creep deserved.

Some day.. Some day they would make him pay with his life, she vowed, as her hands entangled themselves under her leader's arms to help support him as she pulled him up with the assistance of the Predacon medic.

"Predacons...," "...retreat."

Megatron had finally perked up enough to be able to speak to them, of course his orders almost seemed a bit unnatural coming from him. But his words, defeated as they were, at least held some sense to them. There wasn't much of anything left to salvage here anymore. The Viper was destroyed, Zodiac was basically untouchable as long as Primal protected him, and Megatron had already obtained the golden disk and the stolen spark.

Nemesis let out a barely audible sigh as she pulled to a stand, dragging Megatron up to his feet with the movement. "You heard the commander, move out!," she told the Predacons via comlink to re-enforce what Megatron had just said, should any of them even try to protest or worse yet.. take advantage of their leader's predicament.

"Your continued protection of that sorry pile of scrap might be your undoing one day Maximals."

Nemesis nodded in agreement to the medic's words, feeling exactly the same way if not more strongly. But she was still grateful the female medic was there to help her carry the load, so to speak, as Megatron barely had enough energy to keep himself awake.. much less get himself back to headquarters. So Spineback was a most welcome presence right now.

There was a slight breeze building in the air, causing some darker clouds to gather in the distance. Soon the rain would come pouring down onto their battlefield, no doubt resulting in the still burning wreckage of the Viper going dormant once more. For a biologist such as Aurora, this would indeed be the best ending one could hope for as it would reduce the likelihood of the destructive ways of her race leaving a bigger permanent impact on the terrain if those fires were to spread. But for the shapeshifter such an event symbolized something much less desirable.

True, the Predacons had retreated and as such he was physically safe from harm. But he was still surrounded by Maximals and their leader, Optimus, had made his intentions towards the renegade abundantly clear.

Under normal circumstances this wouldn't have been a great concern for the pretender. After all he was equipped with not only the ability to rapidly heal, but to change his shape and implement technology from other sources into his already impressive arsenal. He was intelligent, resourceful, fast, and reasonably strong to boot. But.. he was also surrounded and aside from that relatively unharmed small section of the Viper he had let his nanomachines consume for fuel only a few minutes prior, he was still not at his strongest. He felt better than he was, of course, and now had regained some of his capabilities that required more energy to perform, but he still had some way to go before he could describe himself as being on par with his normal self.

Zodiac had continued to shoot in the retreating Predacons' direction, albeit with a bit less luster after they started moving away. He kept doing so until Primal intervened.

"Hold your fire. They're retreating."

The shapeshifter gave the Maximal commander an incredulous look, but he did halt his fire and lowered his arm accordingly. "You really do have a knack of ruining the fun, don't you?," he commented with a slight grimace. Still he seemed compliant enough for the moment, not wanting to give the Maximals cause to turn too much attention to him just yet.

"Aurora, Wintersong, the battle is over. Reconvene on my position."

Aurora looked to the taller female before letting her optics drift to where Terrorsaur had been before he wisely retreated. And he wasn't alone, as all the Predacons appeared to be leaving. The fuzor brushed some of that messy lock of fur away from her face as she contemplated this new development, just as Wintersong's words from earlier repeated in her mind.

"A lot of emphasis on the yet."

Perhaps.. And yet they were still alive and in seemingly better condition than the retreating Predacons. And good thing too!

As Terrorsaur's shape faded into the background, Aurora turned towards the direction of the wreckage where she knew Primal was. "It's good to hear from you, Optimus, and we'll be right there," she assured him before glancing over at Wintersong once more. "Guess we're wrapping things up after a debrief. Are you okay?," she asked the other female, unsure if she had sustained any injuries during the battle. Wintersong was tough for sure, and she wasn't one to complain. So Aurora kept a close optic on her as the two started making their way towards Optimus' location.

While Optimus was preoccupied addressing his troops, Zodiac took the opportunity to silently scan the terrain as he clutched a little harder onto the weapon Primal had let him borrow. A direct attack on Optimus wasn't much of an option right now. It was obvious that the Maximal commander had no regard for his own life, he had even admitted so to the renegade during one of their past encounters. The lives of his crew, however, was still a weak spot of his. Maximal sentimentality.. It was peculiar they had survived this long with that odd compassion of theirs. Yet again they had let Megatron and his Predacons escape when they had the upper hand, despite the renegade trying to persuade them otherwise. Well, now the tables were about to turn when one of their own had to suffer the consequences of their leader's decision.

He kept the weapon wielding hand away from Primal as his nanomachines went to work, letting them swiftly consume the weapon only to rebuild it to another form.. a more suitable one for what he had in mind.

Through the corner of his optic he watched Primal's every move as he integrated the circuitry of the weapon into his own and allowed his nanomachines to alter it. Molecule by molecule they stripped the weapon apart, combining the material with components of previously acquired weapons. More specifically he was altering the weapon to function more like a sniper rifle, thus greatly improving its range and accuracy, but without compromising the speed of fire Primal's gun was capable of. He still tried to keep the appearance fairly similar to the original weapon as not to arouse suspicion and thus make Primal act on his words sooner rather than later.

“You’ve lost your freedom, Zodiac. No, we won’t be letting you go."

Optimus' words repeated themselves in the renegade's head. His words held true, no doubt, and it was unlikely there was anything the pretender could say that would change the Maximal commander's opinion. But if words alone weren't enough to keep the renegade out of prison, then perhaps actions would persuade him better. After all, Primal was notoriously attached to his fellow Maximals. So forcing the commander to come to their aid would give the renegade the opportunity to escape.

Or so he hoped.

"I feel I should warn you..," the renegade then told his one-time-foe-turned-ally-but-now-foe-again. "About the information located within Nexus journal, I mean. It contains information you may not enjoy finding out about."

As he spoke, he took the opportunity to select his target. His choice fell upon one of the females, the tigress who had been held captive by the Vok for the past few months. She already looked more than a little roughed up and she was located in one of the more accessible areas. And knowing how the Vok operated on a personal, almost intimate, level, he would likely be doing her a favor by taking her out. At least then she wouldn't have to suffer needlessly from the aftermath.

He sighed ever so slightly as he addressed the commander again, keeping his tone calm with a hint of defeat in his voice.

"Nexus made a lot of mistakes, you know. And be careful.. you do share some of those flaws with him."

Having completed the needed adjustments to the weapon, he tried to keep it hidden from view as best he could by moving his own wings around himself like a cape of sorts, his arm holding the weapon steady and aimed so that he could glance back over at Primal to see if there would be any reaction.

"Did you know he sacrificed himself to protect you? I'm not sure how, but somehow he was aware that it was me targeting him. Yet he didn't admit it to anyone other than his journal. Basically he died hoping that would be the end of it, that the Viper would arrive here to rescue you and your crew, and that his death could atone for the sins he committed in life."

His voice kept calm, albeit there was a hint of a smile creeping up on his face while speaking. Meanwhile Zodiac kept his arm with the newly formed sniper rifle trained on his target, the weapon making additional adjustments using the parts he had salvaged from Primal's own weapon to improve the rate of fire as well as the accuracy. Fortunately he was well versed in the use of long range sniper weapons as part of his extensive training as an infiltrator, so he was confident he would be able to hit Wintersong's spark chamber even at this distance and end her miserable existence.

It wasn't that he resented the white tigress in any way. Not exactly anyway, since the two of them had barely even met. But that was actually the very reason he was singling her out, and perhaps he'd throw the little fuzor into the mix for good measure. Wintersong had just now returned from her ordeal at the Vok site, so there wouldn't have been any opportunity to give her a physical yet. And since Primal was unaware of the shapeshifter's regained ability to manipulate metals, he wouldn't automatically assume the renegade was involved when the female suddenly would collapse. As for the fuzor, well, that one was more out of spite.

He was well aware of Optimus' devotion and love towards his crew, so surely it would shock him enough to stun him if some of his beloved team members were to fall over dead. Of course by the time Primal got to them as he would surely frantically do, that would give the renegade ample opportunity to sneak away before the Maximals even realized what had happened.

His tone of voice took on more of an edge as he continued, his optics drifting to the movements of the two females now. They were coming towards them, completely unsuspecting of what was about to happen. This was almost going to be too easy..

"By the way, Optimus.. I didn't get a chance to properly thank you yet." Indeed. Primal might have assisted him just now, perhaps even saved his life from ending in the Predacons' clutches, but in the renegade's opinion that still didn't make up for the other things the Maximal had done to him.. Blowing up the Viper with the shapeshifter still on board only being the most recent of these issues. A faint click could be heard as the highly lethal round of ammunition slipped into the chamber as he prepared to shoot.

"So if you'll let me, I would like to show you a token of my gratitude..," he continued, his focus entirely on the two approaching females by now. He had them in his sights, his modified weapon was ready. And with Primal's attention surely purely on him right now, he took the opportunity. And fired his concealed sniper weapon at both females in turn.

"Be there in a moment Optimus, we were taking care of a pest problem."

Optimus was a little concerned when he heard Wintersong mention a problem. He had left them with Inferno and Rampage, so did this problem pertain to them? Or was it with someone else? He was about to ask if they required back-up, but Aurora's voice reassured him that they seemed to have things under control.

"It's good to hear from you, Optimus, and we'll be right there,"

He was relieved to hear from his youngest and wounded Maximal as well. And with the Predacons evacuating the area with their incapacitated leader, the only thing he needed to deal with now was Zodiac.

"Hope you don't have plans for the next week my liege, you won't be doing a lot of strenuous activities for a few days in your condition."

"Nonsense," Megatron denied muttering to his medic as she began to handle him. But she was right.

"Your continued protection of that sorry pile of scrap might be your undoing one day Maximals."

Primal tilted his chin up ever so slightly at Spineback's comment as if to make himself appear taller. Despite having already dealt with Zodiac attempting to kill them more than once, he still took her words into consideration. Once they got them in the brig, there would hopefully be less problems even though he was still unaware of the renovations that Aurora and Whitegrazer had made to one of the holding cells.

"You heard the commander, move out!,"

Ah, Nemesis was there as well. That gave Megatron some assurance of his survival, and that no one, especially Terrorsaur, was going to be able to take advantage of his vulnerability. He felt both her and Spineback lift him carefully to his feet. His vision was blurry and he couldn't maintain his balance or coordination, but at least he wasn't entirely unconscious.

Observing all of the Predacons moving out and returning to their base, the Maximal leader stored the lightning gun back into his subspace and looked at the shape shifter.

"You really do have a knack of ruining the fun, don't you?,"

Rattrap couldn't help but think, You have no idea, but he certainly wasn't going say it to the likes of that renegade that no one trusted. Not even the boss monkey.

Optimus extended his hand to Zodiac and said sternly, "I'll have that back now," as he referred to his gun. But as Zodiac continued to dazzle him with more dialogue, he became a bit absent-minded on the subject and lost sight of the weapon as the shape shifter deliberately kept it out of his view in a very deceptive and subtle way.

"I feel I should warn you..,"

Warn me? Now he wants to warn me? About what? Primal thought with some impatience.

"About the information located within Nexus journal, I mean. It contains information you may not enjoy finding out about."

"I'm a big boy now. I'm sure I can handle it," Optimus expressed in a slightly mocking and irritated tone as he glared at him for a moment. He had no doubt that there would be things in his mentor's journal that might disappoint him or upset him, but no one was perfect. Not even role models. Not even Optimus himself. Everyone had secrets. Everyone made mistakes. The difference was being able to accept them and learn from them so that they weren't repeated. Optimus was older, wiser and more experienced now. He was sure he would be able to handle what ever had been recorded by the Admiral. And if he couldn't... well, he had Whitegrazer and Rhinox to help him cope and stay on track. What bothered him the most at the moment was that Zodiac had already stuck his nose in the private book, having watched and listened to everything already that had never been meant for his prying eyes.

"Nexus made a lot of mistakes, you know. And be careful.. you do share some of those flaws with him."

"It's interesting how you feel it necessary to be somewhat protective over this." Optimus shook his head. Did Zodiac really think that Primal felt that Nexus could do no wrong? He had already found out about some of his mistakes, so why was he trying to make a point about it now? It didn't quite make sense to the injured ape. "I think you're just stalling," he bluntly pointed out. But stalling for what? To prevent his incarceration? Too bad. Justice will be served, even if it was for the both of them once they returned to Cybertron. From his position, his gun was out of his sight, hidden by Zodiac as he was changing it and targeting the approaching females.

Even Rattrap was growing suspicious of the pretender's talking. Who cared about all of this? What difference would it make. It was what it was, and after everything Optimus had already been through, he doubted that anything negative in his father-figure's journal would have any profound affect on him.

"Did you know he sacrificed himself to protect you?

If that was true, it certainly wouldn't come as a surprise to Primal. So what? That was the bond they had shared. Was this more jealousy shining through the shape shifter? "Have I not done the same for you?" he returned, so that if Zodiac was envious to the relationship Optimus once had with Nexus Prime, then he could now relate to experiencing something no one had ever done for the renegade even after all of the murders and manipulation he was guilty of. Of course, Optimus didn't expect this one instance to make up for the wrongs he did to Zodiac indirectly, but he was hoping it would be a start.

I'm not sure how, but somehow he was aware that it was me targeting him. Yet he didn't admit it to anyone other than his journal. Basically he died hoping that would be the end of it, that the Viper would arrive here to rescue you and your crew, and that his death could atone for the sins he committed in life."

Now, that was a little more interesting, again, assuming Zodiac was being truthful. Why would Nexus have kept something like that to himself? Why not report it to the proper authorities? Or had this all been planned by a higher influence and ignored anyway? Was Optimus and his crew destined to never be rescued...? With the odds stacked against them, it certainly seemed like the only thing that made sense in this senseless war. "But you couldn't let that happen," Primal indulged him. "Knowing my location, you had to hunt me down and make me pay for my involvement in your torture and experiments. Nexus had already paid the ultimate price despite how wrong it was of you to take the law into your own hands, but I continue to stand in your way. Doesn't that tell you something? Aren't you learning anything from this?" he inquired.

Taking notice of Aurora and Wintersong strolling toward them with fragments of the Viper's debris between them and the group, Rattrap glanced at the pair of females and offered them a quick wave so as not to distract Optimus who was near him. Then he looked back at Zodiac and studied him, particularly his facial expression that was changing ever so slightly. He narrowed his optics at him thoughtfully and extremely suspiciously, but since the rodent wasn't a mind-reader, he hadn't the slightest idea what he was up to.

"By the way, Optimus.. I didn't get a chance to properly thank you yet."

"I don't believe you ever would," he threw back at Zodiac while his audio receptors didn't pick up the hidden click that was made.

Rattrap's did, and his optics immediately began searching Zodiac for any sign of weapons. He presumed that if Zodiac was going to shoot someone, it was going to be Optimus who was directly in front of him and already terribly wounded in his abdomen and shoulder.

"So let me show you a token of my gratitude..,"

Primal noticed that Zodiac wasn't making eye contact with him anymore. Something was wrong... He was about to follow his gaze when Rattrap had suddenly burst out his name.

"Optimus!"

Two precise gun shots were heard from Zodiac, which immediately drew Primal's attention back on him. But he hadn't been shot. He couldn't have missed him, he was standing right there. Who was he targeting?

"Wintersong! Aurora!" came another frantic shout from the rodent. It all seemed to happen in a matter of a few seconds.

"NO!" Optimus threw himself at Zodiac with all of his weight in an attempt to tackle him to the ground when he heard the shots. He still had his weapon! Primus, the shape shifter just fired at his Maximals with his own gun! It had to have been. He must have modified it because it was the only way he would have been able to fire at anyone in his weakened state since he had no other weapons. Just when he thought they could have started something new, that maybe Zodiac was open to moving on past this cycle of revenge that he was stuck in, that they could have a civilized conversation, that his Maximals were safe from anymore harm after the Predacons left, the shape shifter had to go and ruin all of it! He had to take advantage of Optimus's compassion and use the love of his Maximals against me! ENOUGH OF THIS! Furious, Primal took out his taser and tried ramming into Zodiac's side to electrocute him with the higher voltage setting. He didn't even know if the pretender's shots had hit their marks. He didn't know if Aurora and Wintersong were okay. All Optimus knew he had to do was subdue their enemy as quickly as he could. With the adrenaline flowing through his body, he ignored the pain from his torn stomach and shoulder. If he could overpower Zodiac, then he could get the energy bonds on him and drag him back the Axalon.

While Primal struggled with Zodiac, Rattrap wasted no time to run toward his two female comrades as fast as he could. He feared the worst...

"I'm here Rhinox!"

Looking over the engineer followed the Fuzor's voice and clambered through some thick debris to reach him. Once he did, he automatically started assessing his injuries with by visual first.

"Little rustier than I thought."

"Easy," he recommended the taller bot as he heard him grunt and tried helping him to his feet so he wouldn't lose his balance. "It's alright. You've done very well today, all things considered. It's been a long one for all of us," he tried comforting his comrade.

"And I most likely won't be flying any time soon."

"No, I'm afraid not," Rhinox concurred as he gently examined his wings with his hands stretching them out just enough to see their spans lacerated and TransMetal feathers bent out of alignment. It looked painful so he was very careful folding them back as far as they allowed. "You'll definitely need to log some time in one of the CR's. On the bright side, it looks like the Predacons are retreating." Rhinox looked over to find Nemesis and Spineback hauling Megatron off, and the rest of them leaving without a fuss, most of them wounded. Megatron probably got what he wanted, which was an unfortunate loss for the Maximals. But at least everyone seemed to survive the battle, even Zodiac. "We should probably regroup. Come on," he encouraged the large Fuzor to maneuver cautiously around the debris field with him. "Reverting to your beast mode should help begin some repairs," he suggested as they moved toward the rest of the Maximals.

-----

"I can assure you insect, soon enough you will know what true fear is."

Hah! Inferno laughed inside. Fear. Pain. Both are my friends, he thought while he watched the large bot get up and transform to his beast mode. He continued to keep his weapon trained on him but he put some space between them as he followed the crab who surprisingly complied with their Queen's order to retreat.

"Old crab cakes here givin ya any trouble?" Quickstrike asked Inferno as he joined them.

"Not at the moment, Fuzor," the taller, red Predacon answered. "Has the Royalty retrieved his spark?"

"I don't know!" the scorpion/cobra shrugged with his claws in his beast mode. "I missed most of the battle because of that slaggin', heavyweight Maximal that got the drop on me," he verbally scolded Rhinox who wasn't even near them.

Inferno shook his head and the two of them continued marching along behind the king crab to join up with the rest of the wounded Predacons.

"Is... everyone... accounted for?" Megatron asked Nemesis. "Including... Rampage?" If that disobedient crustacean wasn't cooperating, he would be forced to pull out the other half of his spark and squeeze it in order to force him to come with them. How easily they foiled Zodiac's plan. Unfortunately, he didn't get to kill the shape shifter, and they had lost the immaculate vessel. Now, both factions were out of a ship to go home. But no matter. Megatron wasn't purely relying on the Viper anyway. He still had his other plan.

"I'm fine, not a scratch on me." Wintersong assured the younger femme with a smile as they began making their way around the wreckage of the ship, "Perhaps we should be fortunate Terrorsaur likes to mess with his opponents before he makes his final move at times, probably our saving grace today." Wintersong added, turning her gaze towards the retreating forms of the Predacons, wondering if any of them had escaped with little damage at all when one didn't count Inferno.

"Then again, I would prefer battling the Predacons a thousand times over as we have today." Wintersong's tone became a little more solemn, realizing just how normal this ordeal had felt. The Predacons forever assuming a grand goal, attempting to find any way universally possible to not only pillage what they could of Prehistoric Earth but then to take over Cybertron, change it to how they saw fit. Strange as it was to think about. "As bleak as this is to say, battling the Predacons is so...normal now, a confirmation of sorts. At least I knew this was real." The Transmetal tigress hated sounding so vulnerable, so full of need to confirm none of this was in her mind or a dream.

This was the first time today she was willing to admit the Vok had shaken her.

Shifting her gaze away from the retreating Predacons however, the tigress noticed Rattrap waving and raised a hand in response to show they had seen the rodent. But next to them, speaking with Optimus was the shapeshifter Zodiac, a face she thought would have long since left this world but now had been the source of so much pain and misery, causing her to growl somewhat low in her chest. "Unfortunately, he is becoming all too familiar." Such disdain seemed to briefly reawaken the taint left by the Vok, the tigress having yet to consider that the Vok may have left something behind, a physical reminder of their power encasing her spark housing. Though she quickly perked up at Rattrap's frantic cries, looking confused at the Transmetal rodent before she felt the shot seconds later.

Optics widening, it took a few seconds for Wintersong to register what had just happened, glancing down at her chest to find a slow trickle of energon beginning to come down and the same green fluid presently dried and caked on her armor. The shot had been only slightly off enough to avoid a direct hit but still grazed her life force, although the brunt of the shot had been absorbed by the protective layer around her spark, still penetrated but lowering the lethality. Only just though. The damage was still enough Wintersong found herself collapsing, only vaguely aware of her internal systems mentioning the damage before shutting down into emergency stasis.

With Rhinox's help, Tigerhawk finally was on his feet, being careful of his footing due to being on the wreckage of the ship and also making sure he was stable enough to allow Rhinox to have a quick examination of his wounds. The fuzor winced from the careful movements of his wings, turning his head slightly to see the twisted and damaged feathers, being only a part of the damage done by Nemesis. "Quite a day it has been." Tigerhawk agreed with a nod, carefully shifting his wings against his back once Rhinox was finished, making sure the wouldn't accidentally bump into anything. Albeit it was an awkward feeling with his wings out of alignment in places.

Following the rhinoceros from the wreckage, Tigerhawk glanced over to where the Predacons were retreating, a presently welcoming sight. Shame they were enemies, when they needed to it seemed the teams worked rather well together. "Considering the past few encounters, you would think the Predacons would find it more productive to work together than against us." He commented to the large mech. Though he gave a quick nod, "Right, self-repair systems." With that, Tigerhawk converted back to beast mode, flinching from discomfort due to his injuries but otherwise made his way to his comrades, glancing up towards the gathering dark clouds. A most welcoming sight perhaps.

Though he suddenly froze when he heard Rattrap's frantic cries, looking at Rhinox with a concerned expression, "That can't be good." Without a second thought, the fuzor picked up the pace to return to his comrades, wondering what had just occurred.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Hearing Megatron mutter, Spineback couldn't help the faintest of smiles come to her face. She had to give this Megatron some credit, he was tenacious and stubborn, something she had come to respect since joining this ragtag crew. "Commander, I commend you for your endurance and ambition, but even an ambitious young conqueror such as yourself needs to know their limits. And right now, your medical advisor is saying you need to take it easy for a little while." Spineback insisted lightly. But, at least this also confirmed that he was coherent, more so than he had earlier when Terrorsaur had caught him from the crashing Viper.

"Yes, our glorious leader has a rather annoying habit of surviving the worst of encounters." Terrorsaur squawked above them in disdain, knowing from experience that Megatron was incredibly difficult to offline. His stint with the energon mountain had more than proven that to the flier, but it had never deterred him in his own pursuit of power. Maybe one day Zodiac would just off Megatron and Nemesis and the shapeshifter would off one another in their mutual hatred of one another. That always seemed a possibility, one that Terrorsaur wouldn't mind seeing and taking the opportunity to step in as leader from there uninhibited by the usual contenders.

The thought made the Transmetal flier smirk slightly but wisely kept such thoughts to himself.

Spineback though merely glared at the pterodactyl, less than impressed by his attitude already. They hadn't even began to cover the type of nuisances Terrorsaur himself caused, and it probably wasn't worth indulging the flier as the Predacon medic turned her attention to their group, already scanning those present who would need time in the CR tanks or handling minor repair work. So far, the only one whose without too much damage was Inferno who had remained behind to handle the king crab.

Rampage initially ignored Quickstrike, finding the fuzor hardly worth his time after his pitiful display in the earlier attempts to take him down. But the mention of his spark fragment caused the immortal mech to listen closely, expecting for the fuzor to have some information pertaining to his spark but gave an annoyed huff when Quickstrike mentioned he had no idea. 'Incompetent fool.' He thought, fixing his optics ahead as he spotted further moment, eyeing the weakened Megatron and the two females having to support the once seemingly proud and strong Predacon leader. But there was one thing Rampage was more concerned about than if all his new "comrades" were present.

"Where is the other half of my spark saurian?" Rampage demanded in a low growl, his pincers snapping opened and closed in a hostile manner, prepped to act if he had to.

((OOC: Hey, wintersong! *hugs* I'm glad to be back, but like I said, still slowly easing myself back in the game. I don't know if I want to take Rampage back, at least for right now anyway. I will think about it, but you are doing an awesome job with him. I read all you guys post and I loved them. I hope the post I have is all right for a slow way of easing myself back into the game.

And what better way to have me and Whitegrazer return? ))


Like two crackles of thunder, and everything went in slow motion for Whitegrazer, like time stop, frozen her in place, staring at Zodiac and Optimus, watching the two shots aim for their targets, Wintersong and Aurora. Her spark ached, pulsated in pain, as the shot aiming for Wintersong hit her, sputtering green blood on her face, making her processor flash Banshee's blood spluttering on her face and chest entered her visage, helpless, unable to do anything but watch her die in a disgustingly gruesome manner, flashback even farther, forcing her to remind when Aurora got shot by Zodiac, the images of the Aurora's fluid stainging her hands and knees haunted her still. Even though, she couldn't take the bullet for Wintersong, her yellow optics stared dead through Zodiac's scope, stare through his eyes, knowingly, knowing deep down inside the tinge of spite the shapeshifter felt without even opening their link. With a click, she disconnect Optimus from her spark as she stepped inbetween the bullet and Aurora and took the bullet. The bullet went through her armor, but due through the trajectory of the bullet, the bullet pierced her stomach region, lodging itself deep within her innards, trapped with no exit wound. She grimaced, bent over, down on one knee, breathing heavily, holding her bleeding stomach region, trying her best to remain conscious despite the pain, continuing to shield Aurora, looking straight at Wintersong with a face of sorrow and Zodiac with a face of determination to not let him win this victory. I won't give up on you, Zodiac. You are coming with us.

"I'm fine, not a scratch on me."

Aurora tilted her head somewhat as the two females made their way back to Optimus' location. They weren't exactly hurrying since some of the Predacons were still lingering in the area and the little fuzor was weary of an ambush, but much to her relief it appeared the Predacons were indeed retreating. Even while barely functional Megatron demanded their respect, she supposed, since she couldn't imagine any of the Predacons remaining loyal because of their undying devotion to their leader. Well, a vast majority of them anyway. There was always the odd case of Inferno who genuinely seemed to like, even love, the tyrant. But Aurora blamed that one on the giant fire ant having more than a few screws lose.

Wintersong was putting on quite the brave act for someone who must have gone through absolute horror at the hands of the Vok. Honestly, Aurora felt a little guilty about the Maximals not having been able to save their comrade when the plant had swallowed her in its cocoon. It must have been a nightmare, truly, and then to awaken and find herself alone, deserted by those who should have protected her. Of course the Maximals didn't have much choice at the time, since the entire alien site had gotten buried underground and the cocoon along with it. Still, some part of Aurora felt bad about it.

Not quite knowing what to say, the fuzor placed her hand softly on the arm of the older female. "I didn't mean just physically..," she told her softly, accompanying her words with a slight but reassuring smile.

"Perhaps we should be fortunate Terrorsaur likes to mess with his opponents before he makes his final move at times, probably our saving grace today."

Aurora smiled a little wider at that. "Terrorsaur should praise himself fortunate Megatron called off his goons, or he would have gotten his wings clipped."

Hopefully her apparent confidence, which really was far exaggerated from how she truly felt, would be infectious to the other female given the response she had just told her. In reality Aurora was far from as confident as she had just let on. She was well aware of the fact her weapons or physical attributes weren't the strongest, and she lacked the experience and skill set some of the older Maximals had. Sure, she was relatively adept at computers and mixing chemicals, but in a brutal fight she wasn't the strongest or anything even close to it.

"Then again, I would prefer battling the Predacons a thousand times over as we have today."

The fuzor's smile faded as she listened to the other female's voice turn solemn. In her own way Wintersong had just confirmed the fuzor's suspicions.

"As bleak as this is to say, battling the Predacons is so...normal now, a confirmation of sorts. At least I knew this was real."

Aurora nodded and looked away as the two of them kept walking. And her response came after a barely audible sigh, more so out of disappointment for what the tigress had to endure all these months.

"I think maybe you need to have a chat with Optimus about your experiences.. And Whitegrazer. They will be able to relate to what you went through better than most."

The fuzor might be the youngest of the Maximals, only having been given life here on this planet, but she still held a certain wisdom well beyond her age. She knew that she wouldn't be able to relate to what Wintersong had been through, since she had never been exposed to the Vok the same way. Only Whitegrazer, Optimus and.. well.. Zodiac had. But the latter couldn't be trusted so she certainly couldn't advice anyone to have a conversation with him about it.

"Unfortunately, he is becoming all too familiar."

But from the sound of it, Wintersong was all too keenly aware of this. Aurora nodded in agreement, hoping the shapeshifter would show them some semblance of cooperation and respect and simply come along peacefully. There had been enough fighting and death lately.

Up ahead the two females could see Rattrap waving his arms frantically at them, as if to be trying to warn them of something. Aurora heard him call out their names, causing her to freeze in her tracks as she saw the rodent race towards them.

What was going on?

Confused, and a little concerned, she turned to look at the other female again. Only to see Wintersong's face grimace from the sudden and unexpected pain. She seemed to stagger for a moment, her hands automatically drifting to her chest region, and Aurora's optics followed the movement. That's when she saw the green fluid oozing out of Wintersong's chest.

The fuzor gasped in horrified surprise, her hand instinctively moving up to cover her own mouth as if to silence a scream that never came. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl at that very moment, Aurora's legs felt like they were going to give out and she struggled to maintain her balance.

No, no.. This couldn't be happening! They had just won.. How.. who.. what happened..??

It was then that another presence made themselves known, a mere second by this planet's time before the second shot would have impaled itself into Aurora's own spark and potentially shattered it forever. Whitegrazer had come running to the scene and tossed herself in front of the smaller fuzor, using her own body as a shield to cover the younger female.

Aurora gasped as she witnessed Whitegrazer drop to one knee, the expression on her face revealing a similar pain as to that Wintersong had just had on hers. The little fuzor's legs finally crumbled and she fell to both knees while staring at the other females in shock. It took her a few nanoclicks to fully comprehend what had just happened, but when she did she quickly rushed over to the other females to try to stop their bleeding by applying pressure to their wounds with her hands and some leaves from nearby bushes.

This couldn't be happening! She couldn't lose two more comrades, not now, not these two!

She didn't even notice the other Maximals that were running over to help.

Nemesis held a tight grip onto Megatron as she helped keep him steady while they made their retreat. Fortunately Spineback was right there to help since Megatron was not exactly light and even though the avian female could likely carry him by herself, it wouldn't be as smooth of a ride if she had to. Albeit she hated retreating while the traitorous renegade was still alive, but he was the Maximals' problem now. If Primal couldn't be persuaded of how much trouble this guy was and how they'd all be better off without him, then there was little she could do.

"Is... everyone... accounted for?" Megatron asked Nemesis. "Including... Rampage?"

The avian female and second in command glanced back over their retreating troops before replying. "They're all accounted for, even Rampage."

For how long the crab would continue to cooperate, now that was a different question altogether. Surely the only reason he hadn't rebelled yet was because his spark was again back in Megatron's possession. The sooner they got him back to base so Megatron could have him reprogrammed to be more obedient, the better. Still, part of her wondered if bringing such an unpredictable force of nature along was the best option, but she'd never question Megatron's authority to his face about this issue. Not even now that he was in a weakened state. She respected him too much for that. For now the crab and the saurian were too far away for her to overhear their conversation. But it would be foolish of the saurian to drop his guard around the crab for even a moment.

"I'll have that back now,"

Zodiac had chosen to disregard the Maximal leader's request, not wanting to draw his attention to the weapon as the shapeshifter kept assimilating it into his own circuitry. Instead he kept talking, mostly only vaguely interesting tidbits about Nexus and the journal, to try to keep the other male's attention away from what he was actually up to.

They would all learn soon enough.. Especially Primal. No doubt the Maximal would frantically rush to his comrades' aid, being the sappy and often overly attached fool that he was. Zodiac would never be able to understand how Maximals had survived so long with that sort of attitude. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made and Optimus simply wasn't capable of functioning if he believed the lives of his troops were in danger.

Perhaps, then, it was a bit hypocritical of the renegade to still be harboring a grudge for the loss of his own team members. Sure, his crew had been small, but they were loyal to him and his cause. And it had been a Maximal under Primal's command that had killed the renegade's strongest soldier and then tried to hunt the shapeshifter down as well.

Well, Primal was about to regret his part in that.

"I'm a big boy now. I'm sure I can handle it,"

"Can you?," Zodiac replied, making his rhetorical response sounding almost like a challenge. Yet he maintained his neutral expression as best he could while he finished the last few details of the new, modified weapon.

"The final verdict on that is still out as far as I'm concerned," he continued.

"It's interesting how you feel it necessary to be somewhat protective over this."

Zodiac smiled almost a bit sheepishly as Primal pointed out something he was less than enthusiastic to admit to. Yes, it was true he held a somewhat obsessive grudge against Nexus and everyone who had helped him torment the renegade. But in his mind that grudge was warranted. Nexus deserved what he got, even if in some strange way even Zodiac himself mourned his loss. It wasn't that he felt sorry for what he had done, but that part of him would forever be shaped by what he had endured under Nexus himself as well as others. And oddly the act of killing someone so many saw as a role model, hadn't eased up on the pain of those memories any. It was a fact Zodiac had denied to himself for some time and still was.

"I think you're just stalling,"

How very astute you are, Zodiac thought to himself as the now completed weapon pressed against his thigh as it rested as an extension of his own arm. He still kept it hidden from view, using his large wings to cover the newly formed sniper weapon.

"Perhaps..," he responded rather bluntly, "But can you really blame me? There's something appealing about freedom, after all."

"Have I not done the same for you?"

"A sacrifice requires you to actually give up something valuable," the renegade corrected the Maximal. Such as your life, he then thought without verbalizing it. He'd already stopped looking at his would-be captor and was instead devoting his attention to the two females in the distance.

"But you couldn't let that happen," Primal indulged him. "Knowing my location, you had to hunt me down and make me pay for my involvement in your torture and experiments. Nexus had already paid the ultimate price despite how wrong it was of you to take the law into your own hands, but I continue to stand in your way. Doesn't that tell you something? Aren't you learning anything from this?"

And for a moment, Zodiac actually reconsidered his plan. What if Primal was right? What would the renegade ultimately achieve by doing this? What if Primal wouldn't respond in the way the renegade had predicted? The questions flooded his mind for those uncomfortable few seconds, making the renegade shift his weight while giving some genuine thought to what Optimus had just told him.

"Give me a chance here, Optimus.. It's not easy to change when something has been imprinted into you for as long as you can remember," the renegade replied, his voice a bit more hesitant than before. Maybe he'd still be able to salvage this by influencing Optimus' opinions and desires..

But if he didn't do it, if he didn't fire upon Primal's crew members, he would be in chains by the end of the day for sure. Locked up in an uncomfortable brig, devoid of the freedom he valued so much. If they were to ever find a way to return to Cybertron, he would then be forced to exchange one prison for an even worse one. Because the Maximal council wanted him dead, badly enough to send an assassin infiltrator on Primal's ship to carry out the job. And frankly, he had almost succeeded.

Fortunately the moment of hesitation passed quickly enough and he made his decision. No, he had to take advantage of Primal's predictable nature. He had to do this. It really wasn't a choice at this point.

"I don't believe you ever would,"

"Such lack of faith..," Zodiac responded as he locked onto his targets with his weapon and prepared to fire.

"Optimus!"

Rattrap's frantic warning came a split second too late as the renegade had already discharged his weapon against the two females. He could sense Primal's stare once again being directed at him, no doubt as a response to the sound of the two fast speeding bullets escaping the barrel of the gun. Zodiac's all too familiar grin had started creeping back on his face as he, too, turned to look at Primal to see the reaction.

"Wintersong! Aurora!"

"NO!"

And the reaction came, sure enough, but instead of the lost and helpless look of futile distress the renegade was expecting, the look that greeted him was one of determination and anger. And it was immediately followed by the Maximal leader closing the gap between the two of them faster than the renegade had ever seen him move. Zodiac didn't even have time to step aside before Primal had lunged at him, using his entire weight against the renegade in an attempt to tackle him to the ground.

He only barely managed to stand his ground as Primal grabbed a hold of him and tried to push him down, Zodiac responding by bringing his knee up against the other male's already wounded abdomen to try to force him off so he could gain a little distance from him. He then raised his arms, one of them visibly having merged with the still smoking gun, in an attempt to bring them down against the enraged Maximal's backside with hopefully enough force to knock him off balance first.

It was then he heard the feminine voice in his head, the still familiar voice that had both attempted to be a conscience and a nuisance to him in the past. She didn't sound angry, oddly enough, but more so disappointed. And there was a bit of pain associated with her presence. Zodiac shook his head in a futile attempt to make her go away once more.. He really didn't need her distracting him right now.

I won't give up on you, Zodiac. You are coming with us.

No!, he protested. Leave me alone!

But it was too late. Her interference had demanded his attention for but a split second, but it had still been enough time for Primal to pull out his own secret weapon. The taser zapped his side with considerably more force than was needed to result in a reaction from the nanomachines within him. Zodiac yelped, immediately withdrawing from the source of the pain in his side, while his armor briefly took on a bluish hue in the spot that was hit before every system within him started shorting out. Sparks of electricity vividly spread throughout his armor, causing him to stagger for a moment as he tried to maintain control of the nanomachines. To no avail.

The first part he lost control of was the arm with the newly formed weapon, the sniper weapon seemingly melting from his arm as the two entities separated. A thud could be heard as the weapon fell to the ground, obviously looking quite different from Primal's usual gun but still recognizable as such. In its wake Zodiac's hand remained shaking from the obvious pain. The renegade grabbed the trembling hand with his remaining one, trying to stabilize it, but his legs were now about to succumb to the electric surge as well. In truth he had lost all control over his own systems by now and as the electricity ran rampant through him, shorting out his nanotechnology as well as a lot of his basic functions in their wake, he was left unable to cope and much less fight the effects.

For an instant his gaze met with Primal's before the strain on the renegade's legs became too much and they, too, gave out which resulted in him collapsing first to his knees before ending up in a prone position in the dirt. Zodiac could only feel fortunate the surge caused by the taser hadn't been even more powerful, since at the very least he managed to maintain his normal appearance and avoided passing out. But he was still left with little choice but to wait for the surge to finish wrecking havoc with his systems before he could even move again.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity but more than likely was only a few nanoclicks, he started regaining some sensation back in his limbs. They still twitched ever so slightly from the strain put on them, but at least he would be able to move soon. And ever so slowly he did, his first course of action being to try to push himself up with his still shaky arms. Unfortunately the surge had forced his nanomachines into a reboot cycle again, so he had no choice but to try to get away while the Maximals were still distracted by had just happened to their comrades.

((OOC: I know, and again, I'm so sorry for the sudden and temporary absence. I just needed some time to figure somethings out as well as get my my head on straight. But I'm okay now. I really was hesitate to post a post, especially a post out of nowhere, and so short because it was getting late where I was, but I thought it would make up for not having Whitegrazer be there to save Rattrap. But hey, I loved the little dynamic between Optimus and Megatron and Nemesis and Rattrap and Zodiac. It was nice to see and enjoyed the dialogue and action scenes. =D And Wintersong, I can;t wait to see what the Vok have planned for Wintersong. I know I have been silent on the PM, but I would love to continue on where we left off with the Vok. ))

(( OOC: UNA! *glomps you with Wintersong* Stop apologizing for your poor attendance and bask in our glompage of love! It's so good to see you again! I honestly thought it would have been much longer. But you sound like you have things together, which is really good. Also, stop deleting your PMs before I can read them. Just kidding. ))

"Can you?," "The final verdict on that is still out as far as I'm concerned,"

Primal had simply glared at the shapeshifter's reply. Things were going so well, it was a shame he was stuck in this callous, rut of revenge. If Optimus was going to accomplish anything in his life, it was going to be stopping him from murdering anyone else. Of course, he might have been promising that to himself a bit prematurely.

"Perhaps..," "But can you really blame me? There's something appealing about freedom, after all."

"You should have thought of that before you started taking all of those lives. But that tends to be one of your greatest weaknesses, Zodiac. Your lack of forethought," Primal verbally dug into him with emphasis on the last word.

"A sacrifice requires you to actually give up something valuable,"

He found Primal's time, anguish, and energy invaluable? Well, that nearly broke the Maximal's spark, but he refrained himself from expressing his sarcasm.

"Give me a chance here, Optimus.. It's not easy to change when something has been imprinted into you for as long as you can remember,"

That's just an excuse, he thought bitterly before he took a breath to calm down. Of course it would take time, but that was assuming this pretender was even interested in trying to change. He doubted it. And the longer this conversation lingered, the more he felt like forbidding Whitegrazer or anyone to speak with him in the brig, if they ever managed to take him back into custody.

"Such lack of faith..,"

Faith? Faith?! He was not to preach to Optimus about faith! But that was probably the point. Nothing but sarcasm and a condescending tone from Zodiac all the time.

Primal was forced to release the shape shifter when his knee collided with his stomach. The pain shot through his body like lightning, and he instinctively covered it with his arm as he stood hunched over. The pounding had pinched tubes that had dried up earlier to stop the leaking, so now a little trickle of fluid seeped down his abdomen toward his leg. He huffed, fuming now with rage, and he ignored his pain receptors and power levels. Optimus caught the movement of his opponent raising his arms, spotting the smoking weapon that he used to fire at his Maximals. He ducked and spun away from his attack while pulling out the taser and frying his nanobots. Although it was peculiar that Zodiac never followed through with his pounding; instead he seemed distracted. It was a mistake that the Maximal Commander would gladly take advantage of.

Optimus watched his nanotech illuminate in blue, but his anger denied him the ability to stop the voltage. Zodiac was obviously in anguish, and he even dropped the new sniper rifle that he had forged out of Primal's own gun, but he continued the electrocution with the taser. Their optics locked with each other's, but Optimus's were only full of wrath and indignation. He only pulled the taser away from him when the defiant and arrogant shape shifter finally fell to the ground. He watched him drop with distaste and kicked his weapon out of his reach. With Zodiac laying on his chest, Optimus put the taser away and knelt down on his back with one knee between his wings to keep him pinned down. Then he grabbed one of his clubs and placed the handle of it along the back of Zodiac's neck so that it was laying on it parallel to the ground, pressing down firmly which would prevent him from further movement and even moving his head. At least temporarily until his nanobots have the strength to start devouring it and him. For now, he seemed to be too weak to fight back. Keeping his hold on him, Optimus took a moment to assess what happened. It was only then that he realized how "alone" he was again. He couldn't feel Whitegrazer. Why not? Had she disconnected their bond?

"Rattrap, report," he sent over his comm. link since he couldn't see who had fallen with the wreckage between him and the others. He was afraid to ask, of course, despite him covering up the fear in his voice. For a brief moment, his optics were drawn to the horizon where ominous clouds were gathering and progressively floating their way.

The Maximal Spy had reached the females just after Whitegrazer had collapsed with Wintersong, and Aurora was kneeling on the ground too. He sprinted as fast as he could and leaped over debris. He didn't even think if leaving Optimus with Zodiac was a good idea, he was just focused on getting to Aurora, Wintersong and Whitegrazer. Sliding across the crater's loose dirt like a baseball player stretching his legs for Home Plate, he skidded right up to the females and immediately started helping Aurora examine them. "No, no, no, no," he said in a panic, pressing some of the leaves down on Wintersong that she was substituting for real bandages. But Winter was already in stasis lock. While he looked over the single bullet wound that took her down, he asked the ermine, "Are you okay, Aurora? Are you hit?!" he asked before letting her answer his first inquiry. He only glanced at her when he moved from Wintersong to Whitegrazer who was kneeling oddly while holding her hand over her stomach. Why was she holding her hand there and staring in Zodiac's direction?

"Whitegrazer? Were you shot? Lemme see," Rattrap told her until he noticed a thin stream of fluid running down from under her hand. He was not a medic, although he did know some basics, but gun shots like these were way beyond his skills. He knew better how to kill someone than to save them. "Did it go all the way through?" he asked her after he determined that she had taken the bullet for Aurora. While the smallest Maximal was doing her best to assist them, they really needed Rhinox's expertise and calm nature under that pressure. So, he called for their Chief Medical Officer.

"Rhinox, ya read me? Where are ya, Big Green? We need yer help, pronto!" The grave concern within his voice should have been enough to alert the rhinoceros of the significance of his problem.

That was when Primal's voice came through his radio. While he was happy to hear that he hadn't been killed, he was hesitant and reluctant to give him the news with the horrid scene laying right before his eyes. "Uh... Shot... Both...," he stammered with his incomplete sentence and cleared his voice. "Winter' an' 'Grazer have been shot, Optimus."

Unknowingly, Optimus applied even more pressure on Zodiac's neck and back as the news came in, nearly choking him with his club. His rapid breathing was far from easing up, and he stared down at the back of the renegade's head. "How serious are their injuries?"

"Critical and unstable. Winter's in stasis lock," the rodent answered.

Whitegrazer? Optimus tried reaching out to her through their connection. Whitegrazer? he repeated her name again, but he had been blocked. His spark felt like it had dropped into the pit of his stomach. And Wintersong, who had just been through the cruelest and unimaginable experience with the Vok - he assumed since his past encounters and abductions had not been pleasant at all - had finally rejoined them... This was all his fault. He gave his weapon to Zodiac... He couldn't just leave him be... He couldn't allow Megatron to end all of this which could have prevented this massacre... He should have ordered Aurora and Wintersong to return to the Axalon... Don't leave me, he tried sending the mare. Where was that warmth and light now that had emitted from his spark a couple times before? Could it help them? Of course now when he was actually searching for it, it wouldn't surface or activate or however the slagging thing worked. It only seemed to happen - according to the others - when he was completely unaware of it or unconscious or during a very stressful experience to help calm the others. This was stressful, was it not?! Frustrated that he had no control over it and couldn't help his Maximals, he replaced his hand that was holding his club over Zodiac's neck with his other foot, took out the energy bonds from his subspace while he kept his knee on Zodiac's back and started to pull his wrists to his back, over his wings, to cuff them.

"Quite a day it has been."

Rhinox gave a soft sigh in agreement as he watched Tigerhawk grimace a little while he examined him. Even though they didn't know much about this Maximal Fuzor, and he had spent a great deal of time on his own in the wilderness with no interaction with his new comrades, the engineer found him to be a kind and gentle soul. And despite his long absence, he had proven to be very reliable today and cooperative. It must have been a lot for him to absorb in one day, and he could probably use some down time. Well, who among them couldn't by now?

"Considering the past few encounters, you would think the Predacons would find it more productive to work together than against us."

The rhinoceros didn't know how to comment on that, not that it required one. Even if the Predacons ever did agree to work with the Maximals, they could never be trusted, and it would most certainly only turn out to be beneficial for Megatron.

"Right, self-repair systems."

Rhinox nodded to Tigerhawk once with a small but soft smile and watched him revert to his beast mode while he remained maximized. He walked beside them as they headed toward their fellow comrades. ...Then they heard two gun shots that broke the silence.

"That can't be good."

He glanced at Tigerhawk with worry in his crimson optics just as Rattrap's voice came over his comm. link. "We're coming, Rattrap!" he confirmed and picked up his walk to a run that his bulky body would allow, zeroing in on the rodent's location with the three females.

Around the largest of the wreckage, Rhinox spotted the group and hurried to them as fast as his heavy feet could carry his weight. He was immediately disheartened to see both Wintersong and Whitegrazer on the ground with Rattrap and Aurora trying their best to dress their very serious, possibly fatal wounds. "What happened?!" he knelt down between the three white females and Rattrap.

"Zodiac shot 'em!" he exclaimed. "Winter's already in stasis."

"Primus," Big Green cursed under his breath. "Aurora, dress Wintersong's wound properly before she loses more fluid," he instructed her as he handed her some gauze to use instead of the leaves that were too flimsy and repellent. He had to give her credit on her resourcefulness, but they weren't substantial enough to stop the bleeding. There was already a little bit pooling by her waist on the dirt.

"Whitegrazer, what are your stats?" he asked her as he gently placed one of his hands on her upper chest to help keep her propped up so she wouldn't fall over. There was no doubt that she could pass out at any moment judging by the location of her bullet wound. It could in fact be very serious. While holding her up, he peered around her side to see her back. "No exit wound," he confirmed out loud. "The bullet is still lodged inside of her. We have to get her back to Base immediately," he told Aurora and Rattrap. "I don't have the proper tools on me to operate in the field. Where's Optimus?" he inquired since they were going to need someone to help carry these two.

"Apprehendin' Zodiac. He knows the sitch," Rattrap said.

"We don't have time to wait for them," Rhinox commented as his hands were busy helping Aurora with the two wounded females.

(( OOC: I'll leave it there for everyone else to catch up. ))

-----

"They're all accounted for, even Rampage."

Even Rampage? Willingly? Had Megatron any energy left, he would have been taken aback. Let us see how long his cooperation lasts, he mused.

"Commander, I commend you for your endurance and ambition, but even an ambitious young conqueror such as yourself needs to know their limits. And right now, your medical advisor is saying you need to take it easy for a little while."

Spineback's long-winded explanation was beginning to irritate the tyrant. It wasn't her voice, or even what she was saying, it just that her response required a lot of listening and comprehending, and with the dent on his head, his body covered in wounds, and the electric shock he recently endured, he just couldn't process everything as quickly as he normally could and that frustrated him to no end. As reluctant as his demeanor and voice suggested, Megatron finally approved her assessment by simply saying, "Very well."

"Yes, our glorious leader has a rather annoying habit of surviving the worst of encounters."

The ruthless dictator growled in his throat toward Terrorsaur's words that teetered on treachery. "He may yet be... the first snack... of which Rampage... will feast upon," he commented only loud enough for Nemesis and Spineback to hear. It was difficult to discern if he was being humorous or serious. Would Megatron love to be rid of Terrorsaur for personal and disobedient reasons? Absolutely. Could he afford to lose any more numbers and firepower? No. And that was the only reason he continued to tolerate the aggravation he caused among the troops and toward himself.

"Where is the other half of my spark saurian?"

"Calmness, Rampage," Megatron tried easing his over-ambitious attitude. "Have I not... provided you with... shelter? And a supply of... Maximals to devour? One of which... is responsible for your... very existence. Primal," he enticed him as his body grimaced slightly from the anguish he was in, deliberately avoiding the answer to his question. "And you repay me... with treachery and conspiring... behind my back? Zodiac is a failure," he suddenly added sternly. "You have no future... with him. I, on the other hand... embrace your uniqueness... and intelligence. I can give you freedom...," he used the term loosely in his own definition, of course, "so long as... you obey my commands." And that was all he really asked for. Speaking this much was exhausting for him at the moment, but if Megatron could convince the crab that his life would be better under his reign of terror instead of being caged or forced back into stasis lock by the Maximals, without having to squeeze his spark into submission, then this "relationship" would run a whole lot smoother... for Megatron, obviously. And as much as he wanted to punish Rampage for his betrayal and trying to escape with Zodiac, and indirectly being involved with the shape shifter nearly killing him, he just didn't have the strength do to it at the moment. And if he did, would it have the effect on the crab that he hoped for? If he showed him the slightest bit of mercy and appreciation for his talent of invincibility, then perhaps that would work better in his favor. At least for this instance. As for future disobedience? He would probably require a reminder.

Inferno had quickly followed Rampage when he moved toward the Royalty and kept his gun targeting him ready to engulf him in flames and fillet his giant claws.

(( Like OOP said, no need to apologize! But when you're up for it we can definitely discuss more for the plans with the Vok! I may have had an idea or two if you want me to run them by you Una. ))

Wintersong had glanced down at the smaller female, her words echoing Optimus's own in a way.

Yet, the tigress could not bring herself to properly confirm such a thing. She felt normal and tired, yet deep down she knew something was different, they had changed something. At the moment, it was her usual sense of courage and willingness to be reckless, even at the expense of costing her own safety. Now, the Vok had made her feel vulnerable and exposed, as if nothing was beyond their reach. Had Optimus and Whitegrazer felt like this before her? Luckily, Aurora's words about Terrosaur made Wintersong briefly crack a smile, "Might have been an improvement. Transmetalization certainly didn't improve his looks." She had mused before the solemness had set in once more.

"I don't think I would be able to avoid talking about it with one of them at some point even if I wanted to, Aurora." Wintersong admitted, already figuring when the day was over and Zodiac handled it would have come up. But such thoughts had been cut short the moment the bullet had penetrated her chest plating, sending her into stasis.

Tigerhawk ran alongside the rhinoceros, making his way around the wreckage to the horrific scene that greeted their optics, causing his optics to widen. Barely back a day and already the day had gone from winding down to potentially losing two of his newest teammates, the larger fuzor only able to linger nearby since this was not an area he was knowledgeable in. Yet, he was still very much concerned, inching his way around enough to see the pools of energon forming from the two single gun shot wounds.

Given what had happened, the male fuzor shifted himself to be in a spot he could see Optimus handling Zodiac but still within reach of the others just in case. Despite being sore, he was still ready to act in either helping Optimus or giving their fallen comrades a helping hand, his green optics fixated on the Maximal leader cuffing the shapeshifter but ears continuing to swivel back, listening in what had occurred and the extent of the damage. The moment Rhinox said they couldn't wait on Optimus and that possibly fatal shots would require immediate attention, Tigerhawk turned his attention to them fully. "I can help in that regard Rhinox." He offered.

Seeming as he was presently one of the larger available members of the Maximals, it only seemed to make sense to open that offer. But he would wait to hear the decision on the matter.

++++++++++++++++++

Hearing the slight irritation in Megatron's voice, which was likewise reflected in his tired expression, Spineback decided to end her insistence there. It was an old habit to break, use to the type of superiors who rather preferred long winded explanations despite their condition, merely nodding when he understood. Then again, she doubted the Maximals would be acting so quickly themselves considering the trouble and damage they had endured at this point. Least they would keep their own medics and CR chambers busy for a while.

"We can dream of that day." Spineback muttered in response, not minding the thought of leaving Terrorsaur as a midnight snack for the cannibalistic and seemingly invincible crab. For now though, her attention focused on Rampage making a rather bold move of demanding the half of his spark back, turning her Plasma Sphere Shooter to a low setting just in case.

The crab had been willing to go to any lengths to combat them earlier, so the saurian femme held no doubt that Rampage would risk again and thus requiring precaution.

Terrorsaur glowered towards the three, seeing Megatron mutter something but being far too low to hear. It didn't help there was also some distance between them, making the flier wonder what sort of smart aleck remark Megatron had to say. Given his present condition though, Terrorsaur wasn't overly concerned in making such a bold statement. It wasn't his first time doing so, and wouldn't be his last.

Rampage on the other hand gave Megatron a glare with narrowed optics, speaking words of mock disappointment and pretty words.

But that's all they were to the immortal crab, lies and empty words. He had heard the same statements made many times over, spun different ways and all being the same. He knew exactly why Megatron so much as made these statements now. In his weakened state, the saurian would be easily taken out, crushed and torn apart without mercy by the king crab without batting an optic. Perhaps agonizingly slow, enough for Rampage to soak up the feelings of pain, to feel the joy of slowly stealing away the life of someone proclaiming themselves to be so powerful and unbeatable. "I'm sure you do." Rampage responded venomously with an edge of sarcasm, making it clear just how much he believed such nonsense.

"Zodiac presented a better opportunity at the time, now which lies a twisted, smoldering heap." The mech added with indifference in regards to his part in Zodiac's plans earlier. "But seeming as that opportunity is now wasted, I will play your little game saurian, for now." At least until he found a better opportunity to reclaim his spark, a chance that was unlikely with Megatron surrounded by Predacons more willing to turn their firepower upon him than risking betrayal of their leader.

((And sorry this seems a bit rushed and not my best post, yesterday was busy and I'm writing this at 3:30 in the morning so mentally kind of dead. XD Let me know if I need to edit Rampage's part, I winged that part since I haven't had a chance to read earlier in the episode and his partnership with Zodiac. Or we can leave it at Rampage just being a butthole to Megatron.))

((OOC: I love you guys!! *group hug* Not long enough? Gee, maybe I should disappear again? Three months? Four months? Two years? I think I just need a chance to catch my breath because of a lot chaos and stress overwhelming me, and I did. Anyway, I will have a post for you guys tonight. Hopefully, I will post for both Whitegrazer and Blackarachnia. If I don't have enough time, then I will post for one of my characters. Also, I been thinking about taking a couple of more characters. ))

((OOC: Well, I will post Whitegrazer for now. ))

Whitegrazer kept a hand on the wound on her stomach. Aurora came over to Wintersong and her's side, trying desperately to cover both of their wounds the best way she could. Rattrap came running towards them, the panic in his voice and his expression. As the rat ran over to them, she remembered the time when Aurora got shot due to her carelessness, a carelessness that had gotten Aurora nearly killed, the little one who she looked upon as a child, a daughter, someone she tried her hardest to protect, and couldn't help but see this as her way of making up for that mistake. She just wished she had been fast enough to save Wintersong as well. If she could have, she would have pulled them both down on the ground, so no one got hurt, but instead, she was too late, forced to place herself inbetween the shot coming towards Aurora. Optimus probably already felt their connection lost, probably fearing the worst. She couldn't risk it. Not yet, not until she gained controlled of herself and the agonizing pain seizing her stomach region, which she showed to Rattrap, when he asked. Fluid leaked from inbetween her fingertips, but the loss wasn't as bad as Wintersong or as fatal. "It's..." she strained a smoothing whisper towards the little one and Rattrap, "it's okay, I'm fine. Focus on, Wintersong, she is in more severe condition then I am." That was the truth. Wintersong had been already in exhausted state due to the fact she awakened from the cocoon, then, despite the fact she wished for the female tigress to rest, the female tigress was eager to battle and had gained more wounds, aggravating her own tired and drained state. She should have never brought the white tigress here, but something told her she would have come anyway. Besides, maybe it was best for her to be around them, so they could keep an eye on her rather than leave her at the base where Primus knows what her people could do with Wintersong against her will.

When Rhinox came to look at both Wintersong and her, making the same assessment Rattrap and her did, the bullet was still lounged inside of her. "I'm fine, really, Rhinox," she shook her head. She closed her optics, taking deep breaths, not wanting to divert attention from Wintersong who clearly needed more help than she did, and slowly, stood up with shaking legs, a grimace written all over her face, but she kept taking deep breaths, deep, shallow breaths. This wasn't her first time taking a bullet. She could handle and control the pain. Long enough until they could remove the bullet back at the Axalon. "I can control my pain, at least as long as fast as we can make it to the Axalon." Her voice still a bit strained, but it was less apparent. She contacted Optimus through her com-link, "Optimus, I am okay." She thought, since she was hesitate to reopen the link, at least for the moment, she could at least let him know through a physical means that she was okay. And hopefully, with proper care, Wintersong will be too.

No!, he protested. Leave me alone!

She looked past Rhinox and Rattrap and stared at Zodiac, hearing his words and closing her optics once more. She never meant to open the link between the two. It must have been because of the shot and her own subconscious wanting nothing more but to try and get through to someone who she indirectly responsible for, akin to Aurora, a child, a wayward son I can't, Zodiac, and you know why I can't. I don't blame you for fighting hard for your freedom. I know that, and I'm sorry, but we aren't like those people who committed those horrors to you, I am not like them. Please, give me, us, a chance to help make things right. Stop fighting us. Some of the pain flared up, but she was able to block such pain receptors from surging through the link. "We can't erase the past,it is done and gone, but that doesn't mean we can't still start over. " She reached out a hand towards Zodiac through the distance.

Whitegrazer took a step forward, a staggering step, but once she took another one, she began to gain more control over her pain and systems. She was apparent on staying to watch Optimus and Zodiac.

(ooc: Noooo, you were already gone too long Una!! We were worried about you!! )

"You should have thought of that before you started taking all of those lives. But that tends to be one of your greatest weaknesses, Zodiac. Your lack of forethought,"

Zodiac's optics had narrowed somewhat upon hearing Primal's insult, and his response came in the form of a growl before he followed up with a brief tirade of accusations. He chose to disregard the Maximal's snide remark about his lack of forethought, partially because he disagreed but also because he wasn't going to give Optimus the satisfaction of knowing the accusation had touched a nerve.

"It's funny that you're so quick to judge me for the lives I've taken, when most of the bots I killed were responsible for even worse crimes. Did you notice their forethought or at the least some semblance of hesitation on their part when they sent all those soldiers into battle, knowing many of them would die? Or the enemies they slay in the field? Are you honestly naive enough to believe the old geezers ever regretted the lives lost due to their stubbornness and greed? Even your precious Nexus had countless lives on his conscience, if he was even capable of having one."

The renegade deliberately made Nexus a target, hoping he would be able to break Primal's spirit down, as he had done multiple times before. Yet this time he wasn't quite getting the reaction he was hoping for..

Indeed, the Maximal commander seemed more determined than ever to not be persuaded that the simplest solution would be to let the renegade go. Oh well, it would be his loss as soon as his beloved Maximals lay dying in his arms. Surely that would break his spirit and distract him long enough for the shapeshifter to make his escape.

Or so the renegade thought.. until he had fired the shots and Primal proved that he had an unpredictable personality by lunging at him instead of rushing to his Maximals' aid. Still, Zodiac fought back, temporarily managing to stun his foe with a well placed kick to the abdomen. Yet the abrupt and most unwelcome interference by the vok-hybrid delayed his continued attack long enough for Primal to launch his counter measure.

The prolonged taser attack left Zodiac laying on the ground, his body still aching as a few fine tremors passed through him. It took a few moments before he regained any sensation in his limbs, much less the ability to move them. But as soon as he did, he attempted to push himself up, his hands creeping up underneath him to help support his weight.

This attempt fell short, however, when Primal's foot started pressing against his backside, immediately sending the renegade back down to the ground with a slight grunt. He attempted to turn his head to the side more so he could see what was going on, but that attempt was foiled too when the blunt force of Primal's club pressed against his neck and upper back. Letting out a sigh as the dirt on the ground settled against his face and the scales forming the dreadlocks draping from his head, the renegade stopped struggling.

Primal kept him in this position for a few moments while he got updates from his crew. Whatever those updates were, they couldn't have been good for the Maximals, because Optimus applied even more pressure to his neck region and actually pushed the renegade's face deeper into the dirt. A brief cough managed to solve the issue of the sand penetrating his mouth and nostrils, but much to his dismay he was still unable to move.

Finally Primal let off on some of the pressure against the renegade's neck, only to renew his vigor with his foot taking the place of the club. Zodiac twitched uncomfortably under the pressure, but he really was not in a good spot to do anything about it even though his strength was slowly starting to return to him. It didn't matter, however, as Primal still possessed more than enough strength to keep him pinned.

Aurora worked frantically with whatever items she had available to try to stop the two other females from bleeding out right there in front of her. Her small hands skillfully applied the makeshift dressings since she foolishly hadn't brought a real supply before coming here, and she held pressure as best she could despite her hands being shaky. She honestly felt shocked by how quickly their victory seemed to turn to tragedy, and she was too scared of losing her comrades to really think straight right now.

She barely even notice when Rattrap joined her to help with the first aid, her mind completely focused on the task at hand.

"Are you okay, Aurora? Are you hit?!"

It took a short while for the words to fully process, but when they did she slowly shook her head and briefly looked at the rodent with green, tearful optics. "I didn't get hit..," she told him, her voice faint. But she certainly didn't feel okay regardless, still she left that part out since it must have been obvious by the look on her face.

"Whitegrazer took a bullet for me. It all happened so fast," she continued.

What had happened anyway? The Predacons had already retreated and Zodiac was right next to Optimus so how could he have done it??

She got her answer a moment later when Rhinox arrived to assess the situation.

"Zodiac shot 'em!" he exclaimed. "Winter's already in stasis."

"Primus,"

The fuzor didn't know what to say. None of them had seen this coming or surely they would have done something to stop it before it could escalate this far. And now two Maximals could die as a result, especially Wintersong looked to be a mess. She had lost a lot of mech fluid despite Aurora's best efforts, granted she didn't have her medical equipment with her.

"Aurora, dress Wintersong's wound properly before she loses more fluid,"

Thankfully Rhinox always came prepared as was the case this time as well. He handed her some bandages, which Aurora promptly took to replace the makeshift leaves she had first used. At least Whitegrazer appeared to be holding up okay, but Wintersong would really require some extensive repairs to save her. And fast!

While Aurora tended to the white tigress, Rhinox turned his attention to Whitegrazer. But the rapid assessment he did on her didn't hold much comfort.

"The bullet is still lodged inside of her. We have to get her back to Base immediately,"

Their chief medic wasn't about to get any arguments from the medic-in-training on that one. Yes, she had seen Rhinox perform miracles. In fact he had recently done one on her as well. But that still didn't mean that their surroundings were ideal for this sort of work. Especially with that storm fast approaching. But grim as the situation seemed, at least Whitegrazer appeared to be perking up again. Aurora wanted to hug her so badly, but her arms were busy trying to stabilize Wintersong's condition.

"it's okay, I'm fine. Focus on, Wintersong, she is in more severe condition then I am."

Well, fine wasn't a word the little fuzor would use to describe having a bullet lodged within her body, but once more the white mare was proving herself stronger than those around her anticipated. In fact she was even getting to her feet! Aurora was about to protest this, but the ongoing conversation between the rest of them snagged her attention.

"I don't have the proper tools on me to operate in the field. Where's Optimus?"

"Apprehendin' Zodiac. He knows the sitch,"

"We'll need someone to carry them," Aurora pointed out while looking at Rhinox. "And it looks like Optimus is currently busy.. Maybe Tigerhawk can help?"

"I can help in that regard Rhinox."

She hadn't even realized that the larger fuzor was within earshot when she said that, but he soon enough let them know that he was ready and able to assist them. A fact that made Aurora smile, if only a little, out of gratefulness if nothing else. Tigerhawk was new to the team, but he was already proving himself to be a valuable asset with a spark worthy of the Maximal name.

"Thank you..," she said as she glanced over at the larger fuzor, her hands busy wrapping bandages around Wintersong to keep the bleeding in check. Whitegrazer, meanwhile, was already proving her words to be true and had started moving on her own.

"I can control my pain, at least as long as fast as we can make it to the Axalon."

"Wait!," Aurora protested, "At least let us transport you so you don't use up all your energy to get there!"

Zodiac lay still on the ground, only offering a small amount of resistance when Primal grabbed his wrists and started bringing them down to the base of his spine. It wasn't that he had given up, not exactly anyway, but more so that Primal's weight on his back did a fairly good job of preventing his movements. And of course that voice in his head wasn't going to give him any reprieve even now. Whitegrazer always did have a most uncanny ability to interfere at the worst possible times..

I can't, Zodiac, and you know why I can't. I don't blame you for fighting hard for your freedom. I know that, and I'm sorry, but we aren't like those people who committed those horrors to you, I am not like them. Please, give me, us, a chance to help make things right. Stop fighting us.

Angered by her words dismissing his simple request, Zodiac made one futile attempt at yanking his wrists free of the force that was dragging them down his backside. Optimus was even making sure he trapped the shapeshifter's wings and tail by moving the arms over them, obviously having learned from their past encounters. Realizing there was no way to budge in his present predicament, Zodiac soon settled down again with an annoyed huff.

Stop fighting you? Have you lost your mind?!, he asked her via their link with a great deal of hostility showing through his words. You know perfectly well that Primal will throw me in the brig and throw away the key.. If he doesn't change his mind and decide to give me up to Megatron, that is.


There was a sense of dread poorly hidden within the message. Yes, Primal seemed like the logical option to avoid being executed, but Zodiac wasn't sure he wouldn't fall for the temptation of using the renegade as a bargaining chip against the Predacons. Or worse yet, a peace offer to the Maximal elders should they ever find their way back to Cybertron. Zodiac certainly had no shortage of enemies who wanted him dead for his crimes.

"We can't erase the past,it is done and gone, but that doesn't mean we can't still start over. "

Her choice of words was rather fitting, considering how much of the renegade's life had been spent behind bars. So it seemed like a familiar, yet less than ideal, way of 'starting over'.

Still, he stopped struggling altogether and let Primal do what he obviously had every intention of doing without causing any more trouble. With any luck Primal would at least allow him the small mercy of standing up when he was done restraining him, as the renegade found his existing position both uncomfortable and a bit humiliating. Of course humility was the least of his concerns right now..

Nemesis kept a keen optic on Megatron as they made their way back to base. Their commander was strong, even more so than he looked, and surprisingly he was managing to remain conscious and even threatening to some. Granted with a bunch like the Predacons, with only a few of them actually loyal to Megatron and the Predacon cause, he always had to stay alert. If not, there was no shortage of Predacons more than willing to challenge him for his position. Terrorsaur was only one of the more blatantly obvious cases.

"He may yet be... the first snack... of which Rampage... will feast upon,"

"Knowing Terrorsaur, he might just be foolish enough to inadvertently offer himself as such," the avian female muttered, somewhat disappointed that the pteradactyl couldn't keep his mouth shut even after the several times she had intervened on his behalf to try to spare his miserable life. Frankly, she was getting tired of doing so and if the red transmetal male wouldn't behave she would simply stop trying to protect him. The reason she had done so thus far was because despite his mouth and blatant stupidity, he was one of the few talented flyers they had available.

Meanwhile the situation between Rampage and his assigned keeper was starting to get out of hand. Fortunately Megatron was quick to pick up on it as well and addressed the issue before Nemesis had to get involved.

"And you repay me... with treachery and conspiring... behind my back? Zodiac is a failure," he suddenly added sternly. "You have no future... with him. I, on the other hand... embrace your uniqueness... and intelligence. I can give you freedom...," "so long as... you obey my commands."

It seemed like an obvious choice, really, albeit freedom was perhaps not the word she would use to describe Rampage's future. Still, as long as he remained useful she had no problems with keeping him among the Predacon ranks. He seemed far less opportunistic than the likes of Zodiac.. who could still be a threat to them, even while a prisoner of the Maximals.

Perhaps she could conspire with someone, one of the more science like types among the Predacons, to develop some weapons that could strictly be to subdue Zodiac in the future. After all, she knew the traitor better than anyone. She'd known him since he was but a child, so she had a fairly good idea of what he feared the most. And that would be exactly what he deserved after his acts of treason towards her and Megatron.

"Zodiac presented a better opportunity at the time, now which lies a twisted, smoldering heap."

A smoldering heap.. but alas the traitor had survived. A pity.

"He would have betrayed you first chance he got," Nemesis intervened to correct the crab, "Don't mistake his opportunity for yours."

"It's funny that you're so quick to judge me for the lives I've taken, when most of the bots I killed were responsible for even worse crimes. Did you notice their forethought or at the least some semblance of hesitation on their part when they sent all those soldiers into battle, knowing many of them would die? Or the enemies they slay in the field? Are you honestly naive enough to believe the old geezers ever regretted the lives lost due to their stubbornness and greed? Even your precious Nexus had countless lives on his conscience, if he was even capable of having one."

"Their lives were not yours to take no matter what their crimes were," Optimus told Zodiac in a cold voice. "If it were up to anyone to take justice into their own hands, then I would have the right to kill you and Megatron. Both of you have taken lives, so would my actions not be justified?" he asked him rhetorically as he kept him pinned to the ground trying to give him a different perspective on his misguided ideology. "Right now, you are at my mercy. Lucky for you, I have morals and compassion, so I will not cross that line no matter who it is that stands before me. And let's not try to deflect the person of interest here. I'm not talking about anyone else but you." Primal ignored him mentioning Nexus so callously since he was certain he only wanted to continue pushing Optimus to the edge. He gripped Zodiac's wrists tighter when he tried pulling them away from him, squeezing them almost painfully in his anger and dealing with the renegade's lack of cooperation despite his immobility.

Taking the energy bonds, the Maximal Commander restrained the shape shifter's wrists behind his back while also tucking his damaged wings under them so he couldn't unfold them and try to escape with flight. Then he finally released the pressure on his neck putting his club away and moved off of his back so he could grab his bound arms and lift Zodiac's upper body off of the ground as he stood up and then pull his opponent to his feet. The extra weight from the other bot pulled on his damaged shoulder and abdomen, but he inhaled deeply through the pain. Then Optimus bent down and picked up the modified weapon that Zodiac had used to shoot Wintersong and Whitegrazer, targeting him with it from behind him and poking him in the back on one of his folded wings with the end of the barrel to silently threaten him. "Move," he demanded with the implication to walk toward the other Maximals so he could witness what he had done.

"Optimus, I am okay."

Something in her voice told him that she was simply suppressing the pain, and so he was filled with mixed emotions of worry, sadness and anger. Even if her wound was life-threatening, Whitegrazer remained strong for all of them which was quite admirable and he would have done the same, but would that cost her all the energy she had left? Their bodies could only handle so much damage until they failed. In any case, her ability to remain coherent and astoundingly resilient to the effects of being shot gave him and everyone else the advantage to focus on Wintersong who could not endure as much as the Empath/Vok could, especially only recently escaping the Vok's entrapment on her and doing who knows what to her physically and mentally.

"It's..." "it's okay, I'm fine. Focus on, Wintersong, she is in more severe condition then I am."

Rattrap looked bewildered toward Whitegrazer's words. "Yer actin' like it's just a scratch. Dis ain't no scratch, 'Grazer!" he told her as he watched her bleed between her fingers and under her palm from the hand that was covering the bullet wound. He moved back over to Wintersong with Aurora once Rhinox arrived and immediately started assessing their injuries.

"I'm fine, really, Rhinox," "I can control my pain, at least as long as fast as we can make it to the Axalon."

"Don't over exert yourself, Whitegrazer," Rhinox instructed her, surprised to see her get to her feet so calmly despite her wound. He stood up with her and watched her carefully, ready to catch her if she faltered. Anguish and fatigue were apparent in her optics. "You have a physical form now, and it can only function for so long before it succumbs to the drainage of fluid and energon." He assumed it wasn't the same for her when she was a Vok before she became a Cybertronian. Maybe her spark was unlike theirs when it came to an expiration date, but her body still relied on fuel and energy. As she seemed to stare beyond him and toward Zodiac and Optimus's direction, the engineer moved over to check Wintersong's vitals.

"I didn't get hit..," "Whitegrazer took a bullet for me. It all happened so fast,"

Rattrap took a moment to stop what he was doing as he looked at Aurora who seemed a bit distraught, which was a totally normal reaction given the circumstances. For a moment, he placed his hand over her's to help calm her nerves and to help himself remain diligent and aware. "Then all we gotta do is help Winter," he encouraged her positively. "You can thank 'Grazer later," he offered a small smile to her.

"Rattrap," Rhinox motioned to him with his thumb to move away so he could have more room to examine their TransMetal tigress with Aurora and help her wrap her bandages. "Stay with Whitegrazer."

Nodding, the rodent got up and walked over to the equine who looked like she was in a daze now as she stood almost defiantly against her wound toward Optimus and Zodiac who were now making their way across the crater of wreckage toward the group. Even though it looked like their fearless leader had everything under control with the shape shifter cuffed and weaponless, the Spy still pulled out his gun and kept it ready at his side.

"She's lost a lot, but we've stopped her from losing anymore," Rhinox confirmed to his much smaller medical apprentice and science partner while their dressings held up and no longer seeped. He placed his hand on Aurora's shoulder to comfort her and her efforts. "She'll be stable in stasis lock until we can get her back to Base," he assured her. "You did well, Aurora."

"We'll need someone to carry them," "And it looks like Optimus is currently busy.. Maybe Tigerhawk can help?"

"I can help in that regard Rhinox."

"Thank you..,"

The chief medical officer looked between the both of them and finally nodded. "I thought you might, Tigerhawk. With your injuries you can't fly, but you can remain in beast mode and carry Wintersong on your back." Rhinox carefully slipped his thick hands and arms under Wintersong and lifted her off of the ground while using his legs instead of his back to stand up with her added weight. As a TransMetal, she was bit heavier, but he was stronger than most Maximals thanks to his robust build and beast mode. He then carried her as he cradled her in his arms over to the larger Fuzor and gently placed her on his back so as not to disturb her bandages and make it as comfortable as possible for her body and systems that were desperately trying to keep her alive.

"Wait!," "At least let us transport you so you don't use up all your energy to get there!"

"I'll help her back to Base, Aurora," Rhinox tried putting her mind at ease. "Rattrap, go with them," he ordered his smaller friend to stay with Tigerhawk, Aurora and Wintersong.

"Uh, we got company, Big Green," Rattrap announced as Optimus and Zodiac walked up to them.

Rhinox turned to see who he was talking about. He was relieved to see that their commanding officer was able to subdue the troublemaker and successfully apprehend him, but he was still wounded and no doubt exhausted.

As they approached the group huddled around the two injured females, Optimus instructed Zodiac to stop a few yards away from them so that he couldn't do anything to harm anyone else because they would remain out of his reach. He then stood before the shape shifter with the weapon still in his hands and trained on their enemy. "This is what you're advocating for, Zodiac? Harming and trying to kill innocent bots in order to punish me? To tear me down? To break my spirit and my spark?" The inquiries were all rhetorical though, he just wanted him to see the consequences of his senseless actions. Despite Whitegrazer being able to stand, she was clearly in agony which was, as he determined, the reasoning for her blocking him from their link. He appreciated her doing so so that he could focus on Zodiac, but Optimus really just wanted to hold her in his arms and help her back to the Axalon. "Look at them," he told him. "Do you feel no remorse? No sadness? Look at Aurora's head. You stole her chip and left her for dead just so you could infiltrate our base and reacquire Nexus's journal that you stole after you killed him!" Primal's voice was raised a bit with vexation and irritation. "Wintersong has done nothing to you. Nothing! You don't know her, yet you had no quarrel with your attempted murder. Your cruelty now goes beyond your revenge for me, Zodiac, and I won't tolerate it. If you want to make me suffer for my part in your torture and experiments, then you confront me face to face, and leave my crew out of it," he finished with a deeper voice and narrowed, fiery optics.

Rattrap was glad he wasn't on Optimus's bad side. Yikes. His gaze shifted to the gun in his hand as he studied it. It looked an awful like the monkey's weapon... So, had Zodiac forged it to make it more accurate and powerful? He basically took the weapon that Optimus had lent to him so he could defend himself only to modify it and then use it to try and kill two of his Maximals. With his own gun! How heartless could a bot get beyond that?! No wonder Primal was so angry. That and he nearly lost Wintersong and Whitegrazer. Well, they still could lose them considering they needed to be repaired quickly before stasis lock wouldn't be able to maintain their sparks anymore.

"Rattrap, go. Take them back to the base," Rhinox told him again after he glanced at the impending weather heading their way. He stepped up beside Whitegrazer and watched Optimus and Zodiac.

Reluctant to leave them all behind, the rodent walked over to Tigerhawk with Wintersong on his back and motioned Aurora to come with them while he glanced over his shoulder at the others before he started head back to the Axalon keeping his gun in his grasp.

-----

"We can dream of that day."

Megatron almost grinned at Spineback's comment. It wasn't just what she said that amused him, but the thought of having that kind of control over Terrorsaur's life and taking it any day he wished was very pleasing to him. It wasn't a matter of dreaming, it was a matter of allowing Rampage to simply kill him and consume him. And then none of them would ever have to deal with his snarky, under-handed treachery and annoying voice ever again.

"I'm sure you do."

"I do," he reaffirmed with the crab after picking up his sarcasm. "I view you... as a very valuable asset... Unlike the Maximals... who fear you... and... view you as a monster... One that must be detained... with chains or discarded... like unwanted garbage... on a desolate planet." Surely, Megatron could give him more purpose to his life, even if he was a slave to him. But a slave without restraints or a cage, which he was still willing to offer even after his less-than-stellar partnership with Zodiac. His only control was with his spark.

"Zodiac presented a better opportunity at the time, now which lies a twisted, smoldering heap."

"He would have betrayed you first chance he got," "Don't mistake his opportunity for yours."

"Nemesis is correct," the tyrant assured Rampage. "She knows Zodiac... better than any of us." Including Optimus.

"But seeming as that opportunity is now wasted, I will play your little game saurian, for now."

"I appreciate your... cooperation, Rampage. Let us... return to our base... of operations... for repairs. I may require your... assistance for a future... endeavor," he explained between his breaths of anguish. Ahead, the Darksyde appeared with the temperature rising and the air feeling drier.

(( OOC: I'm going to open a discussion for the next episode, so please check it out and offer your ideas and suggestions so we can get a story planned out a bit for it. ))

Tigerhawk could only look at Aurora with sympathy, only able to imagine the shock and trauma this event had caused them, even more evident when Rattrap had further examined what had occurred. Understandably, they had every right to feel this way when their comrades had been shot in cold blood, no remorse or thought of the implications. This Zodiac character...even some of the worst criminals Tigerhawk had handled in his hayday had never been this ruthless, not to this level.

He had yet to face the dragon shapeshifter personally an already the large fuzor regarded him with anger and weariness.

Still, the mech remained at the ready seeing both the ermine and Rhinox had the same thought, Tigerhawk giving a small smile towards Aurora, "You are welcome young one, anything to help my new comrades." Tigerhawk told her, stepping forward towards the group so they didn't have to walk too far of a distance for the two femmes, crouching just slightly to give Rhinox some aid in getting Wintersong on his back. So far, the transmetal tigress seemed to be alive, but probably just barely.

Unfortunately, Whitegrazer seemed to have other plans, the fuzor glancing at the Vok female with surprise. He knew nothing of her heritage or her people who had given the beast warriors so much trouble, but he had to admire her resilience and iron will, even if it might cost her. But there seemed little they could do to change her mind. "Have faith my friends, they will pull through. If this crew has lasted this long then I imagine you won't be stopped now." Tigerhawk assured them, attempting to be an uplifting force in this situation, briefly glancing over his shoulder towards the arriving Optimus and Zodiac, regarding the renegade with a weary look, observing him from afar more closely.

But his attention turned back to Rhinox talking with Rattrap, indicating for them to get back to base in which case the fuzor nodded began setting a steady pace towards the Axalon.

+++++++++++++

"Could always scare him into submission I suppose." Spineback said with a light shrug, wondering if anything really would set the record straight with Terrorsaur. Even after all the defeats and punishments he had faced it seemed to go way over his head that anything would move the flier to being cooperative and loyal. Perhaps even Inferno might help in that regard.

Rampage, understandably, expressed a look of skepticism.

Perhaps Megatron would keep his word to an extent. So far, he had yet to try and force him to obey or into some kind of restraints as the Maximals would have, but there was still one factor that made him less than quick to believe the tyrant. The most glaring concern being Megatron's hold of the piece of his spark he had removed himself, no doubt somewhere safely stowed away on his person that was not easily accessible to the immortal without tearing the t-rex mech apart. An all too tempting scenario that would likely end badly in his favor.

Given few options at the moment and after some consideration, Rampage gave a low growl and relaxed his hostile posture, shifting to his robot mode. "I suppose your words hold truth little bird, but perhaps I would have done some of you a favor and torn him apart in the process." Rampage spoke with twisted amusement. "But we shall see how free you will allow me to be." 'And possibly live to regret it long enough before I tear you lot apart one by one,' Rampage thought to himself, restraining such an urge now as they headed to the base.

Spineback kept a close optic on the crab the whole time he talked, for now seeing no further threatening signs and lowering her weapon. And even Terrorsaur seemed wise enough to remain silent the rest of the way. "Home sweet home, and hello to a long healing process." Spineback muttered, knowing she was in for a long few days of restoring those who did not take up the CR tanks or before they would take a quick dip. But given the sample of mech fluid she had obtained from stabbing the crab before, Spineback was already beginning to think of a new alternative to help with such a concern.

Whitegrazer gazed over towards Aurora, placing her clean hand on the little one's shoulder as she was tending to Wintersong's wounds. She didn't say anything, but she hoped her gesture would at least give the little one some comfort in such a stressful, chaotic, painful situation. And she hoped by her being stronger, by standing up, despite the pain in her abdomen, the feeling of the bullet lodged inside her, tearing, spinning around when she made movement, would help in reassuring them. As well as having them turned their attention more on Wintersong than her.

"Oh, I have had worse, Rattrap. To me, a bullet to a stomach is akin to a scratch." She said with a small smile and quick chuckle, helping to ease Rattrap and the rest's worry for her. She had to be strong, resilient, calm and confident in the moments to come, especially with Optimus. He had enough to worry about than her safety. After all, she was a Vok. In physical form, perhaps now, having to follow physical realms' rules, especially when it came to death, but still, with physical form or not, she would live on in the galaxy. Just maybe in a different way than before. But she wasn't arrogantly to believe she would live on forever. No matter ageless and powerful the Vok were, they could be killed. They could die. But where would she go? Would she go to the Matrix? Or would The One bring her back to Nexus Zero and become part of them once more? Or would she just cease to be? And in that uncertainty, she chose not to deal on it. Hopefully, the sound of her own voice, telling him that she was okay would help ease any worry after disconnecting him.

When Rhinox told her to not overexert herself, she just nodded and smiled at rhino, "I will try and not to do any flashy moves. Or heroics, for the time being." She watched as the rhino went towards Wintersong and sighed in relief when Aurora seemed to had stopped the bleeding.

"Oh, don't worry, Aurora," she smiled at the little one, who, like Rattrap and Rhinox, concerned about her fluid she was losing. "it wouldn't be the first time I walked back to base, and if I do say so myself, in worst shape than this back when I fought in the war. I can handle it. Besides, we need the space more for Wintersong and transporting Zodiac than myself." The fluid between her fingers leaked and dripped a bit on the ground, but still, she was all right on her own. She pt more pressure upon her wound, grimacing a bit, taking deep breaths, blocking out the pain, mind over matter.

Tigerhawk had arrived and they helped Wintersong onto his back. She kept a glance at the damaged, clinging on to life Wintersong. She prayed for her friend to hold on, to keep fighting. She had just came back to them, and with Banshee's death still vivid in her mind as well as the others', she didn't want them, or herself, to go through another death, another eulogy. She gave a nod towards Tigerhawk, grateful for his assistance, not just for Wintersong, but for the battle they all just endured. With his assistance, Wintersong should be able to get back to the Axalon and in a CR Chamber in no time, and hopefully, everything went smoothly.

Optimus came over towards the rest of them, Zodiac, in energy bonds, with the weapon he used to shoot at Wintersong and Aurora, being poked at his back. She said nothing towards Zodiac, letting what Optimus had said to him sink in, letting Optimus say his piece. Optimus's words dripped with anger, the question, the need to know, if Zodiac did feel any remorse or guilt for what he had done, and she couldn't blame Optimus. Optimus was justified in his anger towards Zodiac. His feelings were valid.


We won't allow Megatron or any other Predacons harm you, Zodiac,Whitegrazer reassured Zodiac. She wouldn't allow it, no matter what. Also, it was clear from Optimus's speech towards Zodiac that Optimus had no intention in signing Zodiac's death warrant, despite how much Zodiac had hurt him.Listen to me, Zodiac, I know you despise what is happening to you right now, and I hate it too. I don't relish in what we have to do. She was speaking the truth. It ached her spark to see how they have to bring back Zodiac to the Axalon, but he left them no choice. But trying to kill Wintersong and Aurora, and everything you have done to us, is something you must take responsibility for. You have shown us time and time again how far you are willing to go for your goals, your revenge towards Optimus. I understand your feelings towards Optimus and Nexus, but you had no right to use me or Optimus and or friends, our loved ones, to hurt him. They didn't even know nor were involved at all. You only did it out spite and malice, and that was wrong, Zodiac. Yes, before Zodiac had fired at Aurora, she had sensed that from Zodiac, and she shook her head in disappointment. If you were in our shoes, would have you done the same? She asked Zodiac thoughtfully, curiously. There was also so much for her to ask, but right now, she was dealing with her injuries and concerned for the safety of her friends. Many of her questions may have to wait until Zodiac is settled inside the Axalon. Despite it all, Zodiac, we don't wish you death. I don't. You will be treated fairly and decently, I will make sure of that, and also, I will do my best to help you, to give you that chance, a chance you probably tried to create yourself, a fresh start.

Just probably not the fresh start he had in mind, but that was life. It wasn't video game where you could erase your past, and as a Vok, she knew all too well that time traveling wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Whitegrazer gazed at Rhinox and then at Optimus, remaining strong and optimistic in their presence, in her own soul, in their future.