(( OOC: It's about time, una!
Just kidding! Good to see you back.
If it's assume that I'll be handling all of the Vok stuff in this episode, I have no problem with that. It'll make my posts go quicker with OP once the 'shroom arrives. But is Whitegrazer supposed to travel with Airazor and Rattrap to Grid Trion? If so, she and OP should probably wrap things up because he isn't supposed to leave the base right away but Airazor, Rattrap and Whitegrazer should arrive at the Vok site together. Yes?
at Manterror. "What in the name of Starscream's treachery."
@ Alak: I believe Frilla, Feralnight, and possibly Whitegrazer ('cause, you know, she broke her armor, LoL). Saber is still out, Aurora ran off (someone should find out that she's missing and what she left on her computer), and Wintersong and Ironclaw are already on their way without getting orders from Rhinox first.
Did I miss any Maximal OC's? Heh.
))
IC:
"You did the right thing. Everyone deserves a chance."
It didn't surprise Optimus that Whitegrazer felt the same way but he was grateful for her support because some of the Maximals were having a more difficult time accepting such decisions. Although, he knew they would have to watch Starshadow a little more closely like they did with Arachnitron.
"Glowstick is dead?"
He gave her a nod that held some sorrow and concern.
"Optimus, it is always sad to see or hear what cruelness people can do unto other people. We will always have to accept that in this world, that there are some people that will do despicable things for a means to an end, for their own sick pleasure, reasons or think they can get away with it. Those are the ones we have to show the error of their way . If they can't be redeem or reason with and they continue to threaten lives, we will have no other option then to do what we must in order to protect those we care about." "I hate killing as I value all life as precious, but regrettably fact of life is some people just need killing because some just don't know when to quit or stop."
Primal's crimson red optics looked deeply into her's, a little distracted by her damaged one however that and the injury on her chest had occured. He understood what Whitegrazer was saying but he never thought he would hear those words escape her mouth. He felt like he had disagree, that there was always another way to stop someone and their ruthless ambitions. Optimus was not a killer. He wasn't even a warrior. It was as if taking a life wasn't in his programming and so he felt incapable of doing it. ...Until he remembered his clone. Seemingly invincible and determined to terminate him, his crew and the Predacons, there had been no other way to stop him, or it. Kill or be killed. Is that how it was like to be under Megatron's command? Was this where their war was going with the Predacons? Perhaps he could agree with Whitegrazer after all... But
only if there were no other options. And perhaps he was a warrior.
"Optimus, all my life, I have been in life or death situations. I have been in close calls. Times when I thought it was the end for me, but it never ends for someone like me. I'm a fighter. A soldier with a mission. A warrior with a purpose. I will always been in harm's way. But that doesn't mean I go looking for death. I just know the risk of it. I'm no death seeker. I'm a life seeker." "I will notify when I have these conversations with Steelclaw. I do apologize for it's suddenness and apologize deeply for putting you in any difficult position. I should have explained it to you. I had my reasons as I didn't want to delay your mission, but I was still wrong. You are my superior officer. You have the right to know what I will or about to do. And I'm sorry."
All her life? The Maximal leader couldn't even imagine. While she was out risking her life every day, he had spent most of his time indoors, safely surrounded by high security and extra precautions, developing things that could very well end up fighting her, himself, and his Maximals, testing their beliefs and reasoning. What if one day the very thing he had helped create which can't be killed would kill the ones he loved? Talk about irony. It made his mind wander to a visual of the protoform that right now was orbiting this planet that they were stranded on. If it were to ever come down and be activated, Megatron and the Vok would be the least of their worries. It was also why he understood more about Arachnitron's and Nemesis' personalities than anyone else there, except for Rhinox.
"It would seem you and I lived very different lives back on Cybertron," Optimus commented but failed to elaborate. He was far more interested in learning about her than revealing some of his darker secrets; ones he was ashamed of by this point and wished he could make right.
"I understand why you didn't tell me what you were doing, Whitegrazer," he jumped back on topic with a lighter tone.
"We were both in a rush. But for future clarification, just let me know when you meet him again so I know where you are in case anything were to happen." Optimus gave her a faint smile and reached across to her, gently taking her delicate hand into his good hand and holding it, adding a light squeeze.
"That story is a lifetime of experience, Optimus. I have seen many things."
Studying her sad smile, he instinctively rubbed her palm with his thumb slowly while he continued to grasp her hand. As curious as he was to know more about what she meant, Primal felt as though he shouldn't push her or make her feel like she was being interrogated. He just wanted to comfort her and protect her. Sometimes certain things weren't meant to be discussed for one's safety among other reasons. Like his own past, right now wasn't the time to reveal everything, after all, they would have to tend to their duties shortly.
"My master was a very eccentric man and good at fooling people..." "I can't tell you everything in one setting or you will be here for months."
He returned her smile but it faded as she went on.
"I did, though, want to explain something that I wished to speak to you about for awhile now. I just didn't know how to explain it properly." "It's about..." "you feel me sometimes, don't you? My presence. My feelings. Sometimes, you feel warmth and peace, other times distress or sadness and you don't understand how or why when you yourself aren't in those types of emotional states."
When Whitegrazer had begun to say more, Optimus almost thought it was about the visions she had shared with him before. Had she seen more? Fortunately, it was about something else. Something deeper. But he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing according to the way she inquiring.
"Yes," he answered.
"How...?"
"I'm a Class One empath. Used to be a Class Five, but I suffered a deep war wound to the chest, which handicapped me and many of my abilities." "I shouldn't have survived such a fatal wound, but I did."
Primal was a little taken aback by that, and he had suddenly felt some sorrow from her. He didn't think he'd ever get used to it, not that he minded it. He had only heard about them but had never met one. Things began to make a little more sense now.
"Then I can only assume that that wound you acquired so along has something to do with your current injuries, and why I felt compelled to see you after feeling some sort of disturbance." His concerned optics glanced down at her cracked armor.
"Whitegrazer, what happened to you?" Optimus asked in an almost desperate voice, looking in her eyes and seeking her trust.
-----
"We'll keep our optics peeled Rattrap, have some positive attitude for once."
Rattrap could hear Wintersong's glare in her voice. He was about to add more when she and Ironclaw took the opportunity to leave quickly. Shaking his head, he said to anyone listening,
"This truce ain't gonna last, so when it's over, and they're distracted with each other, somebody's gonna get hurt. And both of 'em seem to attract trouble to themselves. Not a good combination." Although his approach to Ironclaw's constantly seeking to be with a female - and moving really quite fast about it than Rattrap has ever done so himself - he was genuinely concerned for both of their well being, espcially being out in the field together where distractions could mean life or death. Tigatron and Airazor had been far more mature about it, as had Optimus and Whitegrazer, taking things slow and staying focused on the grand scheme of their situation. Ironclaw seemed far more concerned about having a female companion than fighting this war and being a part of the team. He should probably be happy that Wintersong might have finally found a connection with someone but he hoped it wouldn't interfer with missions.
"I..." "I was partying all night."
Laughing, the rodent said,
"Now I know yer lyin', Starshadow, 'cause only I throw the parties around here."
"why do you care? I thought Maximals enjoy seeing Predacons in a...damaged state."
"Only in the battlefield so we know you aren't gonna keep shootin' us," Rattrap teased as he suspiciously watched her enter one of their CR chambers. Where did she ever get an idea like that? Preds were the ones who enjoyed watching Maximals suffer. Maximals actually cared about those who were injured. And if you were one of the less biased Maximals, they even cared about injured Predacons. Still, she failed to answer him truthfully and he didn't like that one bit. She was hiding something.
"There... appear to be no words."
"Eh." Rattrap threw a dismissive wave at Dinobot.
"I am prepared to go to the other pod,"
Oh great. Does that mean I gotta volunteer ta go with 'im? thought the brown, furry rodent still in his beast mode.
"Airazor to maximal base:" "Two pods are falling and appear to be landing in Maximal Territory. I am also detecting an Alien signature in Grid Trion, only a few clicks from my location. Should I investigate?"
"Not without back-up," Rattrap responded to Airazor.
"Standby, Birdlady." Then he looked at Rhinox waiting for orders.
-----
Walking back toward the Axalon, Tigatron noticed Wintersong and Ironclaw taking a quick leave.
"Hm? Something's going on. Perhaps I had better find out," he said to himself as he trotted to the Axalon's lift and went up it, immediately entering the command center.
"What is happening?" he asked the Maximals present.
. Until then, see ya all later, and enjoy your weekend 
...and your desk 
))