"Never better," he answered truthfully. He'd finally had another battle, and he'd won. He transformed to beast mode silently- but for the mechanical noises which he didn't bother to dampen- and began stalking off towards the Axalon. Just then, Optimus flew overhead and landed in front of the base.Ironclaw wrote:Dinobot, you alright?
He finally arrived himself when Tigatron started relaying Optimus' commands:
Dinobot simply nodded in affirmation, and found himself transforming yet again. He bent down and lifted Rhinox underneath the shoulders, waiting for Ironclaw to heft his legs.Tigatron wrote:Dinobot, Ironclaw! We must get Rhinox inside!
"Was there anyone left for you to fight when you arrived?" he asked his fellow-lifter.
* * *
Cheetor couldn't pay full attention both to what was in front of him and to what Rattrap was saying, but he was so invested in Rattrap's answer that it was his worldly awareness that suffered. It was a good thing nothing on their route was actually all that tricky.
Cheetor definitely didn't know either. The Preds were obviously the 'bots in the wrong. How they thought they weren't was something he couldn't even figure out yet.Rattrap wrote:You got me, kid. I just do what Optimus says. ...Well, sometimes...
...So what the heck do Preds like him and 'Claw actually believe in? Either they're masters of mind games, or they don't know which side they should really be on."
Cheetor was silent about that much, too, but he kept thinking about it.Rattrap wrote:Or maybe Fearless Leader's right. Maybe allegiance doesn't define us. But then why do we have it?
His attention was finally forced away from his questioning when he saw the Leviathan looming by the base.
So this was what they'd been hearing...
Cheetor didn't want to get himself or Rattrap shot, but he knew they needed to help with the battle as quick as possible, so instead of taking a looping route to stay away from the ship, he shot off in a straight line towards the Axalon as fast as he could go.
He tensed up and took a few nervous glances up at the Pred ship from time to time as he got close. But nothing was happening. And then when he got to base, he saw why- the battle was at a stand still. Or over. Or something.
But what a fight it had been. Orcariner looked like he'd taken all sort of shots, Rhinox was out, Airazor was guarding the lift for some reason and there was some sorta huge pile of twisted, sparking, flaming metal on the ground. And that was besides the regular scorch marks on the ground and the few shining drops of mech fluid he could only realize were there when he got close enough.
He stopped to let Rattap climb off. "Sorry about that," he said. He hadn't needed to run so fast after all.
He paused for a second, looking the damaged field over in more detail. "I don't know. Maybe it does define us," he finally gave his answer listlessly.
* * *
Steelclaw gave a quick look behind to see whether Icebreaker was making an attack now, but he realized it wasn't the case. His gaze was drawn for a second at the carnage he'd created, almost a little horrified. He pushed that concern to the back of his processor. Icebreaker would live to hold a grudge with him.
That wasn't the greatest thought either.
Steelclaw nodded silently to Snow Trix, although he still didn't mean to take Arachnitron by force.Snow Trix wrote:Steelclaw we'll just have to get the spider, there's not enough time to get Nemesis.
Steelclaw would have to respond to that fully later. For the moment, he was still paying attention to whatever might happen in the room. And there was Glowstick, who he'd still never really let know what was happening.Sonar wrote:Nice shot. All though I could have easily escaped. I was just wanted him to think he had all the power. Oh, and I take back what I said about you and headless wonder over there.
He got on his com-link. "Alright, we're heading out." He would have elaborated, but then Arachnitron took him completely by surprise. He watched carefully as the whole scene unfolded, uncertain of which words would make her trust the Predacons more or less. So he stayed silent.
He soon had to consider whether or not to shoot her too when she went out of control. But then she went down the lift. He wasn't sure what that meant in terms of the success of the mission, but it was one less variable to worry about.
He lifted his rifle and aimed at the lift as it opened loudly, but he quickly saw no one was even-
Steelclaw reflexively turned to the source of the voice, which he recognized to be Optimus Primal's. And there he was- cannons ready, shield up.Optimus Primal wrote:Steelclaw, Snow Trix, Sonar, I'm giving you two choices.
Oh, here we go...
Steelclaw saw his stern gaze, and some spiteful instinct told him to meet it coolly.Optimus Primal wrote:Surrender or retreat. You're outnumbered and surrounded. And your transport is pulling out.
"We were just leaving," he replied simply. "But we'd better go unhindered- you may assume too little of us."
With that, he backed up towards the lift and waited for Sonar and Snow Trix to join him. At the last moment, he gave Optimus an impertinent half-smile.
"It might surprise you, but I've wanted to ride one of these elevators for the longest time." The glass slid up, and the platform began descending. Steelclaw kept his gaze on Optimus until he was completely lowered out of the control room. Immediately, he turned around and started looking out for any immediate threats, even as the lift kept going down.
((OOC: Snow Trix and Sonar could still logically say whatever they wanted before the three Predacons left. I just assumed that all three of us writers wanted our characters to leave at some point, so I may as well write that part out.))