(ooc: Bravo, DS, your post left me with a grin on my face.
)
The group had remained mostly silent as they traveled back to the Axalon. Only Whitegrazer's comforting words to Optimus and the latter's occasional moan broke the silence, before the Maximal leader's body finally gave up and he drifted off into stasis. Nexus watched the two with his single functioning optic, finding himself wondering about the true nature of their relationship. The white mare intrigued him, indeed. She seemed so innocent through her soft, caring words. Yet beneath those words there was an edge of something else, something revealing a more unsettling truth.
He wasn't entirely sure what this truth was just yet, as her abilities were of the mind and not so much physical in nature. That she had powers he was sure of, but the full extent of them eluded him. In a sense he envied her, envied her ability to read someone's thoughts and emotions and even transmit her own onto a select few. His job as an infiltrator relied heavily on his ability to read others, but he was forced to rely on instincts, research, and of course his intelligence. Having the ability to read minds the way the white mare apparently did would eliminate any chance of error he might make.
Yet still he knew she wasn't able to read just anyone's mind, if she did she would have called him out as a fraud already. But she was able to read Optimus', something Zodiac truly wished he could also. He always attempted to get into the heads of those he had set out to destroy, enjoying playing with their thoughts and emotions before making the final blow. Even in this form, even as Nexus, he felt as if Optimus was holding something back.. Something that was not the case with Whitegrazer. And thus he envied their connection, their ability to touch each other's very sparks, even when separated.
"He is strong. He will survive. As will you."
Finding that he had been staring at the two of them, a bewildering trace of a smile on his face, Nexus was quick to focus his gaze on the female alone as Whitegrazer addressed him. The statement resonated in his head for a moment before he responded in a slightly more raspy voice than usual.
"I know."
It was a brief answer, yet one that encompassed the almost blind faith in his Maximals that Nexus Prime had been infamous for. An inspirational leader, they called him, a fact that made Zodiac cringe inwardly. Fortunately he had enough self-control to hide his disgust well on the outside.
Kind, caring, brave, strong, enduring, stoic..
Inspirational.
Yet also capable of acts of great cruelty to his enemies, something Zodiac had experienced first hand.
Unforgiving, ruthless,
hypocritical.
Oh the Maximals were going to suffer just like they had made him suffer, he was going to strip them of their dignity and freedom just like they had done to him. Not long now..
As the Axalon revealed itself only a short distance away, Nexus let out a soft, somewhat pained sigh, just as he re-positioned himself to have a better view of his surroundings. The giant beetle had done what he could to make the trip back as comfortable as possible, but the ride still had not been as smooth as the chariot he expected to be waiting when he had completed this mission. It was also rather draining to maintain the appearance of being severely damaged, mostly because every shift in position or sudden bump on the ride forced him to grimace or come up with some other display of discomfort to convince the Maximals of his injuries. He was already wondering if he had not been better off had he simply pretended to be in stasis as well, as that would surely be an easier pretense to keep up. Too late now though, they had already arrived.
The large beetle he had come to know as Landslide brought him inside and straight to the medical bay where Rhinox and Nemesis were waiting. There he was gently lowered onto an examination table while Rhinox gave him a quick look-over. To be honest, Nexus was a bit surprised to see that Nemesis was still there. He had thought she would have gotten herself locked away or better yet, killed, by now. Still he avoided meeting her piercing gaze as she scanned his injuries, no doubt attempting to find some flaw in his appearance. There were none, of course, as his nanites had diligently copied the appearance of serious injuries consistent with the thrashing he had received. To the Maximals he really did look like he'd gone to the Pit and back.
"You could probably use some minor surgery, Nexus, but this is nothing a long duration in a CR can't repair. Your back injuries will take the longest."
He nodded as he appeared to struggle to sit up, the deep laceration running across his backside apparently causing him a great deal of discomfort.
"Very well," he responded, sensing that there was no point in arguing with the chief medic about it. He still wasn't thrilled about the idea of a CR chamber, but by now he would be able to control the extent of the chamber's probing and repairs.
As if on cue, Whitegrazer walked in with Optimus cradled softly in her arms, buying Nexus a precious few moments before Rhinox ordered him into the chamber for repairs. And for the first time Nexus managed to get a good look at the extent of his foe's injuries to see just how severe and life-threatening they truly were. Again he wanted to smile at the pain his enemy had to endure and still would be facing once he was conscious again, still his outward display was that of a sorrowful frown upon seeing Optimus, Nexus Prime's protege, in such poor condition.
"Megatron alone did this to you and Optimus?"
Not taking his single functional optic off Optimus, Nexus Prime slowly nodded.
"He did," Nexus confirmed, his voice having regained some of its strength during the trip back.
"Optimus more so than myself. I feared the worst for a while," he then begrudgingly admitted, feeling need to explain the excessive force used against the Maximal leader whereas he had been left relatively unscathed by comparison.
He then went quiet while Rhinox went on to assess Primal's injuries.
"Stasis lock. Little to no hands. Loss of one optic sensor's functionality. Paralysis from the waist down. Gashes. Punctures. Severe loss of energon. Head trauma. Severe mouth injuries. Bent body frame and armor."
Nexus dimmed his single optic and lowered his head, looking to the entire world as the parent that had failed to protect their child from harm.
"I don't even know where to start. It's a miracle he's still alive, although, I have a feeling you had a hand in helping him cope, Whitegrazer."
More evidence. Nexus was becoming increasingly convinced he'd have to take care of the white mare sooner rather than later.
His voice sounded like he was choking up as he spoke again.
"I'm so sorry, Optimus.. I tried to stop it.. But I failed. Please forgive me."
His words sounded so sincere, so pleading and desperate. It was then a female voice that had remained silent thus far, startled him. Nemesis was staring straight at him from a short distance away, her arms crossed firmly across her chest. Nexus' gaze met hers as he heard her words, his face that of a statue's.
"You're lying."
Thanks guys!)