"More Than Meets The Eye: Part III"

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DarkSpark
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Unread post by DarkSpark »

NaitoKage wrote: As Terrorsaur helped Waspinator with carrying Deathroll, he was able to increase his flight speed keeping up with the others surprisingly well. Does Terrorsaur really need to ask? Even Situation simple for Wazzpinator to understand. Creepybot haz alien object, we stop creepbot and earthquakezz. Wazzpinator then spend rest of day in CR tank again.. Wazpinator let out at sigh after that, realizing his life of endless pain and cliche events that reminded him of cartoons of his youth on cybertron.

"Oh please Wasp, and how exactly would Zodiac know how to operate a Vok weapon? He's never even been to this planet before, we're probably the only predacons to have ever run into the "angry space nerds" before" Terrorsaur replied, skeptical about Zodiac's involvement, though earthquake generation was certainly something an alien race capable of leveling entire planets was capable of doing.

Megatron rolled his optics and sighed in annoyance as he finally said "For once your addled brained partner is correct, Terrorsaur. Zodiac is no doubt behind this unwelcome turn of events, for he is the only one who would benefit from destroying both bases and is the only one foolish enough to tamper with an alien weapon he no doubt fails to fully comprehend. As for how I know an alien weapon is behind all this, it is because I discovered said weapon myself quite some time ago."

Every predacon present was surprised to hear of that particular revelation, but once again it was Terrorsaur who voiced what everyone else was likely thinking, only minus any sort of tact, "So let me get this straight, you had access to an all powerful alien weapon capable of generating earthquakes all this time and you didn't use it to destroy the maximals so we could leave this planet and go conquer Cybertron already?! Forgive me for questioning your wisdom, "Lord Megatron," but WHY?!"

"Terrorsaur! Mind you tongue when you address the Royalty!" Inferno snapped, tempted to break formation and deliver some discipline into the transmetal flyer, but a glance from Megatron stopped him from doing so.

"Because Terrorsaur, the weapon in question is really more of a trap than anything else, not unlike the boobytrapped flying island you and Waspinator once visited. Oh sure, I could easily have used the weapon to destroy the maximals and their base, but my studies showed that the weapon's power cannot be controlled that precisely, any quakes targeted at the maximal base would only grow in power, affecting our base as well, and beyond! I believe the device was created by the Vok to test the intelligence of any sentient race that may emerge upon this planet one day, namely if they're wise enough to ignore the ultimate weapon for the sake of their own survival or if they are foolish enough to destroy themselves for the sake of destroying their enemy. Let me put it to you another way, best case scenario, the weapon's power continues to grow and only this continent upon which our bases stand shall be destroyed, worst case scenario, the weapon's power damages the planet's very core and destroys EVERYTHING, including us. I kept quiet about the weapon all this time on the off chance I found a way to control its power properly, as well as to avoid the possibility of those prone to acts of foolishness from toying with it. There was also always the possibility that destroying the device could have unforeseen consequences, but thanks to Zodiac, who is either too stupid to realize the danger he's put himself in or is far too insane to care, we have no choice but to put an end to this device once and for all. There, does that satisfy your curiosity, Terrorsaur? Everyone?" Megatron said, the revelation of the threat they now faced stunning everyone into silence, even the usually sarcastic Terrorsaur.

"Yesssss. I figured as much" Megatron said in reply to their silence, glad that even these fools were smart enough to understand what was at stake here....That, and the fact that if earth was destroyed by the quakes, the original Megatron and his decepticons would perish as well, wiping all future generations of decepticons and predacons alike from existence!

He didn't know if Zodiac had a plan for escape or simply didn't realize what a double edged sword the quake generator was, but the fool no doubt had no clue that destroying the planet, or even just this continent, would wipe countless future generations of cybertronians, including himself, from existence!

"It will not come to that my lord, we WILL neutralize this rogue long before he can go through with his madness!" Deathroll proclaimed, making Megatron grin somewhat at the thought of one of his minions sincerely trying to reassure him that "everything will be okay," of course it would be, he was Megatron, his story would NOT end here at the hands of a fool like Zodiac, he was destined to conquer and rule, and no one would rob him of the glory that awaited him!

"Well said Deathroll, now lets quicken the pace shall we? I do not trust the maximals to handle a crisis of this magnitude on their own, nnnnoooo, such complicated matters are best left to Predacon hands. ONWARDS!" Megatron commanded, speeding up and expecting his followers to do the same, for this could ultimately prove to be their most important campaign yet, and time was of the essence!


OOC: I'll see you all again after the convention! Hope this post explains the quake maker weapon a little better (after its surprise introduction lol), and OOP, just so ya know, I sent you a couple of PMs a while ago. Peace everyone, have fun :D
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NaitoKage
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Unread post by NaitoKage »

(Whitegrazer's to full power eh? Welp, so much for the stealth route on Umbra. )
Rattrap wrote:"Don't worry, 'Slider. You open the door an' I'll just push her out,"
Whitegrazer wrote:"No, no, nothing like that." "More like... the intensity may get so high, that you two might feel things that aren't really your feelings. But it shouldn't be too bad. Just a little quiver. If my abilities were powerful as they were before, you would be, but since that is not the case, you two would be all right."


Landslide made a puzzled expression with his beetle face as he tried to imagine that for a moment. I think we'll leave Rattrap's option open fer now. he said jokingly.
Whitegrazer wrote:"I'll be fine. There's really nothing we can do about it now. Like I said, I can't really disconnect from him unless I subject myself to a deep cleansing mediation for two solar cycles."


Rattrap wrote:"So what's 'Ironclaw doin', 'Grazer, besides gettin' himself killed? Do you know? What about dat shapeshiftin' weasel?

Whitegrazer wrote:"Ironclaw, he seems to be doing all right against Zodiac. But still, I hope Optimus and Blackarachnia get there in time to help him soon."

Whitegrazer wrote:"Zodiac... He activated the device."


Landslide's antenna twitched as he picked up an odor while flying, the faint smell of burning badger hair, as well as the odor from sulfur deposits, usually something Landslide would be more cautious of while mining for energon goodies. Flying in range of the mountain, Landslide watched as Optimus and Blackarachnia circled around, then entered a cavern. He started to fly down where Optimus and Blackarachnia had landed, landing himself. His elytra opened and tailgate followed. I dunno how alright he's doing, smells like he's gettin' cooked. You got any idea how to turn that thing off Grazer?

______________________________________________________

In the distance Umbra followed Landslide, coming down to the ground as he noticed the large beetle land. Descending to the ground he made his way down by some boulders and snow, transforming to his beast mode he slithered up to the side of the boulder and shifted his camouflage, matching the boulder's color, texture, and patterns,while any excess of his body was matching the snow on the ground. From there he observed the Maximals, as well as looking for any other possible routes to sneak around with. From what he could tell, he wasn't detected. the large beetle didn't seem to have a radar built into him,though the ninja lucked out being downwind from Landslide, as his sense of smell would probably of picked up Umbra otherwise.
Optimal Optimus Primal
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Unread post by Optimal Optimus Primal »

(( OOC:
I'll see you all again after the convention! Hope this post explains the quake maker weapon a little better (after its surprise introduction lol), and OOP, just so ya know, I sent you a couple of PMs a while ago. Peace everyone, have fun
I know, DarkSpark, I haven't gotten around to replying just yet. Sorry about that. Have fun at the show! ))
"There are two entrances. Going around a couple of kilometers,"
Two? Well, that could either be an advantage for them providing an extra exit if needed, or a disadvantage as an entrance for the Predacons to sneak into and attack. Whatever the case may be, Optimus continued surveying the area as they neared the mountain. He adjusted his balance when Blackarachnia leaned over to look for the entrance she may have been more familiar with, and probably eager to get off.
"There! Let me down here."
Circling around per her directions, the TransMetal gorilla descended further toward the snowy ground as she instructed, noticing an irregularly shaped boulder with some snow drifts covering part of it. Before Primal got safely close enough, the spider leaped off of his hover board on her own accord like a diving board and dropped down below while converting to her beast mode, landing in the snow. He quickly followed her and disengaged his hover board just a few feet above the ground as his oddly shaped feet flattened the snow beneath them under his weight. It was a cold and wet sensation that he hadn't felt for quite some time. Actually, it was the first time since his TransMetal upgrade. It felt colder without his fur to insulate him. In any case, he continued to grasp one of his clubs in his hand as he looked around the area, half expecting a Predacon to jump out and ambush them. But it was quiet in the peaceful snowfall.
"There is a little crawling space to open it with. Get me a nanoclick."
The blue and silver ape watched Blackarachnia closely as she crawled upward and dug out some packed snow that almost fell on him. Then she disappeared. He waited for her patiently, his thumb gently rubbing the pole of his club. Scanning the mountain side, he didn't notice any of those Vok symbols inscribed into the rocky exterior but that didn't mean they weren't hidden if there were any at all.

She might just leave us out here.

She won't, Optimus objected.

No, you hope she won't, but there's no guarantee. Stop fooling yourself.

What does it matter?! I can move the boulder myself.

And possibly trigger a trap. I'm simply reminding you how you trust too much too easily.

Primal growled at the voice to shoo it away when he noticed the large, round rock rolling aside and finding Blackarachnia on the other side, her darkened silhouette created by the illumination of the lava behind her. Told you. He could feel the heat escaping the entrance and wrapping around his colder, metal armor, swiftly melting the snow surrounding him and the way in.
"It won't take us long to-"
The Maximal stepped toward her and then stopped to maintain his balance when the mountain shook and some small avalanches of snow and rocks tumbled down the sides. That fool, Zodiac, will destroy everything and everyone! He wondered how the Axalon was holding up. It was then when he heard a familiar sound in the air that made him turn and look, delaying him from entering the mountain while the black widow was more than willing to keep moving forward.
"Looks like someone is having fun. We better hurry."
"Hold up, Blackarachnia. Reinforcements have arrived," he said, pointing the index finger of his free hand to Landslide was inbound. As much as he was itching to get in there and stop Zodiac with Aurora's "virus", he knew he had to stick to their plan and follow Rattrap's orders. He hoped she would cooperate. Another quake erupted, allowing more lava to spew into the air through the cracks in the ground from the force of the machine. If they didn't hurry, the tunnel could collapse on them or even before they could get through to Zodiac and Ironclaw. The force of the shaking knocked Optimus over into the shallow snow that was melting into a large puddle around him. His pink optics showed great concern as he tried getting to his feet while the ground trembled like thunder. He worried about Aurora and Rhinox, and everything Whitegrazer must be going through with her connection to Zodiac. Zodiac... The shapeshifter was his doing, his fault, and Nexus Prime's. ...Wherever Nexus was... He used to be a father-figure, a role model, a savior to Optimus. But now... he didn't know what to think. There was so much deception and trickery. Who and what was he to believe?
"No, no, nothing like that." "More like... the intensity may get so high, that you two might feel things that aren't really your feelings. But it shouldn't be too bad. Just a little quiver. If my abilities were powerful as they were before, you would be, but since that is not the case, you two would be all right." "I'll be fine. There's really nothing we can do about it now. Like I said, I can't really disconnect from him unless I subject myself to a deep cleansing mediation for two solar cycles."
I think we'll leave Rattrap's option open fer now.
"Yeah. Ain't nobody gettin' inside my emotions, 'Grazer! Got dat? We can't afford any distractions, especially if we'll be fendin' off some Preda-scum. Just do what you gotta do to-to-to stop Zodiac or help Optimus. We gotta stay focused and work together," Rattrap tried convincing her and Landslide while he spliced some of the beetle's wires, put them back together and finished hooking up the "coolant system" that he could use to fire and keep things cooler for them. "I'm done, Landslide. See if dat works."
"Ironclaw, he seems to be doing all right against Zodiac. But still, I hope Optimus and Blackarachnia get there in time to help him soon."
"Hey, Ironclaw's the pro, right? It's his bounty. Optimus and the she-spider ain't supposed ta engage until we arrive and team up. I'm sure de fearless badger can stand on his own for a little longer," the Spy concluded. Then he watched Whitegrazer closely, whose breathing was unusual and her expressions kept changing. "'Grazer?"
"Zodiac... He activated the device."
"What?! Well, uh, well, what's it gonna do? Decimate us? Blow up the planet? We gotta stop 'im! Hurry, Landslide!" the rat panicked. He watched the mare grow distant again, as if she was with someone else, and then she gripped her chest plate and she seemed frantic. "What's happening, Whitegrazer?!"
I dunno how alright he's doing, smells like he's gettin' cooked. You got any idea how to turn that thing off Grazer?
Rattrap glanced outside when Landslide's shell opened, but he remained by Whitegrazer's side until she could answer them.

-----
"Thanks..," "Okay, I'll get right on it,"
Poor Aurora, Rhinox thought as he worked diligently outside. So much had been going on lately, it was hard for one to wrap their heads around and cope and constantly adjust, especially for someone as young as Aurora despite how mature and wise she seemed for her age. Just as she was feeling toasty inside the base, he was beginning to feel the temperatures rise outside, even with a breeze, and looked up at the Axalon. It might turn into an oven if they didn't get some exhaust fans and quicker ventilation running. When he finished up outside, he took a moment to look around and absorb the magnitude of their situation. The ground was cracking and crumbling near their ship. It wouldn't be able to hold too many more quakes, even less of the ones like the last tremor. As much as he didn't want to admit it, they might have to come up with a good evacuation plan after all.

Without wasting any more time, Rhinox hurried back into their base of operations and immediately headed to the controls in the bridge. It was certainly warming up in there, so he opened up more exterior vents throughout the ship and turned on fans to help blow out the warm air and circulate cooler air. Another earthquake came, harder and more violent. Rhinox grabbed a nearby chair to keep himself up. The entire vessel rocked with the metal frame creaking and twisting as the ground it sat upon convulsed in the tremors. "Optimus, Rattrap, this is Rhinox. Do you copy?" Static. "Rattrap? Rat-." More static. "Slag! The quakes must have damaged our communications system, or they're interfering with our long range," the engineer assumed with great irritation. "Aurora," he called through his comm. link, "how are you managing?" He started to run diagnostics on the Axalon's radio frequencies and transmissions in search of the problem.
"Well, that's just prime!"
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Mystrea
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Unread post by Mystrea »

Ironclaw had made a name for himself in the Maximal military, much of this he was completely oblivious of until one day when he was called to an audience with his commanding officer. On this occasion here was another to attended the meeting who's name he still did not know even to this day. He was offered a proposition which he immediately declined. To leave friend and post was out of the question for him, it felt like he would be abandoning it all. But this nameless face appealed to the part of Ironclaw that would pull at his spark. A name from his ancestry which compelled him to accept. And there he was, presented to the council. Placed in the council chamber, a single spot light illuminated him while the rest of the room was shrouded in darkness. He could feel the optics upon him.

"Are you ready to live up to your namesake?" An anonymous asked him.

"I am"


Back to the present:

Time was running out for the badger. The rocky island of safety was slowly sinking into the lava and if he didn't act he would follow. The cave continued to collapse due to the vibrations caused by the alien machine to his back. To his front, the primary target which was within reach. It didn't matter if he got buried here, the machine had to be stopped before it caused anymore havoc to the rest of the planet. Ironclaw growled internally as he briefly looked over behind him. the jump was achievable, stopping the machine would be the tricky bit. Cross that bridge when I get to it, he thought to himself. As the badger was distracted he took a cheap shot to the chest and growl went from internal to external. Optics locking with Zodiac's, he almost forgot about what was going on around him. The chaos bought him back to reality when another boulder came down right for him. Ironclaw saw it coming and he made his choice. He leapt towards safety, towards the machine and landed all four's. Looking back to see if Zodiac was still there resulted in him get bashed on the head by one of the rocks now falling from the ceiling. He tried to get to his feet when another rock fell on him, the hard rock basing and denting his armour until hit one hit him on head forcing him down. The raining rocks started to bury him, until he was completely covered.

"AAARRRGGHH!" Ironclaw suddenly erupted from his temporary burial and pushed onwards towards the quake machine. He arrived at the control and was perplexed by all of the alien symbols. There was no way he could technically over come this, he didn't have the expertise. There was a long shot and the badger went for it. Fist met panel with a crack and it died, however the machine did not cease. Ironclaw looked around the machine, stumbling as he went and tensing up every time he was hit by another rock. On the other side of the machine there was some sort of writing on a cover. Clawing the cover away he discovered a glowing light which was centred in the machine. Perhaps a power source? Wrist cannon deployed and aimed. He knew that this probably would not end well but it was worth it. The cannon fired one shot and it hit dead on. After a moment it exploded in his face and sent from flying back, dangerously close to the lava.

Time to leave. The transmetal badger got to his feet and desperately looked around. Zodiac had disapeared from sight and it seemed the exit had also. Even though his time was almost up he kept his cool and scanned area. There! He saw an exit. Ironclaw gave his all to make his way to what would be his own survival. Jumping, dodging, running and sliding he got a tunnel entrance. He was about to step in when it caved in right in front of his face.

Ironclaw looked around with grim resolve. Is this the end?
una
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Unread post by una »

Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Hold up, Blackarachnia. Reinforcements have arrived,"
Blackarachnia was tempted just to keep on going. She didn't really need Maximal back-up. With her knowledge of the area, she could sneak inside and see if the shapeshifter and Maximal badger were too busy fighting each other, so she could make a grab for the device. She went a bit farther inside. The mountains' walls were lighting up. Probably because of the device, but they were brighter than they were before. Was the device fully operational? The mountain started shaking violently. Maybe she just answered her own question. Her instincts told her to go outside. Now! Now! She dashed back outside, looking behind her to see multiple cave-ins. She wasn't that far inside, so just rock dust excess tinkled her metal finish.

Maybe Optimus had a point about holding up. Especially in this circumstance.

"Whoa! Was that the device or your Maximal's handiwork?" She wiped the dust away from her shoulder and looked upon the mountain that was still shaking. Then towards the incoming Landslide and the other Maximals. "Yo! Do you guys know what is going on inside there? Landslide? Horsey!"

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Yeah. Ain't nobody gettin' inside my emotions, 'Grazer! Got dat? We can't afford any distractions, especially if we'll be fendin' off some Preda-scum. Just do what you gotta do to-to-to stop Zodiac or help Optimus. We gotta stay focused and work together,"
"Trust me, Rattrap, if it was going to be that bad," Whitegrazer gripped her spark and smiled, almost chuckling, "I would have walked." Rattrap did make a good point. Her powers had a way of effecting people, especially those in close proximity to her. Back in the war, when her abilities ere full power, people couldn't stay in the same room with her. Some did, but most didn't. Feeling the aura she drew in from different sources, friends and enemies. Some so frightened that she might get possessed by a Predacon or something. Fear. Sometimes, irrational, made others gave her the watchful eyes of those with paranoia and trust issues. Especially towards a cybertronian with abilities they couldn't comprehend.

Zodiac didn't answer her questions. He didn't think he needed to. And he was right. She knew the answers the moment she asked them. No, he didn't hate Nemesis as much as he did Optimus... or her. Yes, she felt it. His hatred towards herself. Her constant interference. The one person who destroyed much of his plans. The unknown being who thwarted what could have been his righteous vengeance towards Primal, towards Nexus Prime. If she hadn't stuck her nose here, he would have won. She beat him. She knew that too. And she was going to beat him here. Disapproved of his callous towards Nemesis. After all, she did what anyone would do in that situation. To kill her along with those he held justification for suffering and murder? That was just as inexcusable as his actions towards Optimus. And the harm he caused towards Optimus' own loved ones. What he did to Aurora.
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Hey, Ironclaw's the pro, right? It's his bounty. Optimus and the she-spider ain't supposed ta engage until we arrive and team up. I'm sure de fearless badger can stand on his own for a little longer,"
NaitoKage wrote:I dunno how alright he's doing, smells like he's gettin' cooked. You got any idea how to turn that thing off Grazer?
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"What?! Well, uh, well, what's it gonna do? Decimate us? Blow up the planet? We gotta stop 'im! Hurry, Landslide!"
Ironclaw was doing well taking care of himself. Feeling the strength of his blows that even more her for a moment believe she had been hit. Her jaw ached.. Her back felt like it had been scratched against sharp rocks. Zodiac's contempt for the badger for his interference, angry at the badger for killing his comrade. The same anger he held for the Predacons who killed Night Terror. Felt Zodiac's desire to exact revenge, to tear the badger apart. Ironclaw was prepared for someone like Zodiac, as he revealed to Optimus and the others. He did well in distracting Zodiac long enough to keep the device from being activated as long as he could. But now that the device as activated. The heat was rising inside. Zodiac's triumph radiated to her, knowing that Ironclaw was injured or worse. He wasn't dead, but something told her Ironclaw was incapacitated for the moment.

"Ironclaw is alive. Something is happening. A cave-in," Whitegrazer closed her optics briefly then opened them, "All I know is that, from what I felt from Zodiac, the device would cause massive earthquakes that could tear our ship apart. Think of how Darksyde is sitting above lava. Except our base would soon collapse into it. And Darksyde would follow surely after. " Turning off the device seemed to most viable option. If they could get to it. "I don't know about the device or how to stop it. Alien technology is tricky. Destroying it could work or it could cause even more devastation. We need to get there and see for ourselves."
"What's happening, Whitegrazer?!"
"The nanomachines," she paused, flinching in pain. "They're trying to fix my spark injury."

She tried to stand up. Slowly, using some of the seat to help her. The nanomachines were poking and prodding. See them actually crawling around her spark. She felt Rattrap's presence even if he was right in front of her. But there was more... So much more. She stared at Rattrap for a second. Feeling his concern for her and the others. The will to survive. The willingness to stop the madness that is happening. And Zodiac. She looked to the ground. Landslide. Focused. Determined. The whiff of sulfur in the air. What did he smell? It came from the mountain. Ironclaw. Ironclaw! Her optics closed. Blackarachnia. A Predacon trapped. Angry. Desperate. Wanting control. Optimus. She felt Optimus without the connection. She missed it. And he seemed to as well. Nanomachines continued to work. Spark pulsed harder and harder. Flinched. Gripped her chest in agony for a moment. A battle between those darker impulses and what he knew was right. He fought back. He trusted, yet doubt. Saw Nexus. Worried. Worried for his crew. Zodiac... she already knew, but she felt a faint beacon. a faint pulse. Pain. Suffocation. Trapped. It was Ironclaw. Crushed.

Feeling, feeling, she closed her optics and told the others. Though, there was a noticeable pain in her voice. "Ironclaw is trapped in the cave-in. The device he has it."

She looked at Rattrap then towards some place far away. Struggling, she tried to keep herself balanced as she made her way outside when they landed. Snow trickled. She felt another presence. Farther off, it was hard to focus through, yet she wasn't threatened by it. Only observing. Watching. Turned her sights back onto the mountain, gazed at Optimus. Her hand still gripped her chest. Though, shakily, tried to let it down, trying to not to worry him or anyone else. Need to be strong. Everything was moving towards her. Emotions. The coldness of the snow. The heat of the lava inside the mountain. Tried to see how Rhinox, Aurora, and the Axalon were doing. Spark only repaid her with pain. Not quite there yet.

She stared up at the mountain, watching as Zodiac came out of the mountain. Wondered if Zodiac felt what the nanomachines were doing to her. Wondering if he could handle what was going on inside her. Wanted to block, yet knew she couldn't. It would take time. Though, she remained wary. Shielding the others', what she felt from them, from him. Especially Optimus', like a protective shield.
Phoenix
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Unread post by Phoenix »

"Oh please Wasp, and how exactly would Zodiac know how to operate a Vok weapon? He's never even been to this planet before, we're probably the only predacons to have ever run into the "angry space nerds" before"
Nemesis listened to Terrorsaur's words, finding them to be very shortsighted and witnessing of the red transmetal's ignorance. Although she didn't know exactly how Zodiac came across the alien technology, it was obvious he had been aware of this site before he even set foot on this planet. In fact Zodiac must have been in contact with the aliens because his armor was of the transmetal variety just like them.

"They visited more than one world..," she muttered, mostly to herself, while Megatron put Terrorsaur back in his place. The thought was a bit disturbing to say the least. Just how far did the aliens' influence, these Vok, reach? And yet the idea intrigued her. Had Zodiac visited another world like this one, one that the Vok had already made claim to, or had this happened on a Cybertronian settlement? If so, how would they have acquired Vok technology?

Images of her own search for Zodiac after she had made her escape flashed through her mind. Memories of a settlement laid barren, Zodiac's trail disappearing there, leaving Nemesis to believe he had perished in whatever catastrophic event had happened there.
"For once your addled brained partner is correct, Terrorsaur. Zodiac is no doubt behind this unwelcome turn of events, for he is the only one who would benefit from destroying both bases and is the only one foolish enough to tamper with an alien weapon he no doubt fails to fully comprehend. As for how I know an alien weapon is behind all this, it is because I discovered said weapon myself quite some time ago."
"He is no doubt using his nanomachines to bypass the alien technology's security features," Nemesis concurred. But Megatron did make a good point when he said that Zodiac likely did not fully comprehend the technology he was trying to use. None of them did, Nemesis suspected, even Megatron himself. Otherwise she had no doubt that the tyrant would have attempted to access the device for himself, even if he outwardly had deemed it as being unsafe to do so.
"Because Terrorsaur, the weapon in question is really more of a trap than anything else, not unlike the boobytrapped flying island you and Waspinator once visited. Oh sure, I could easily have used the weapon to destroy the maximals and their base, but my studies showed that the weapon's power cannot be controlled that precisely, any quakes targeted at the maximal base would only grow in power, affecting our base as well, and beyond! I believe the device was created by the Vok to test the intelligence of any sentient race that may emerge upon this planet one day, namely if they're wise enough to ignore the ultimate weapon for the sake of their own survival or if they are foolish enough to destroy themselves for the sake of destroying their enemy. Let me put it to you another way, best case scenario, the weapon's power continues to grow and only this continent upon which our bases stand shall be destroyed, worst case scenario, the weapon's power damages the planet's very core and destroys EVERYTHING, including us. I kept quiet about the weapon all this time on the off chance I found a way to control its power properly, as well as to avoid the possibility of those prone to acts of foolishness from toying with it. There was also always the possibility that destroying the device could have unforeseen consequences, but thanks to Zodiac, who is either too stupid to realize the danger he's put himself in or is far too insane to care, we have no choice but to put an end to this device once and for all. There, does that satisfy your curiosity, Terrorsaur? Everyone?"
Insane.. or desperate, Nemesis thought to herself. Using the device had clearly not been Zodiac's first choice. But with the discovery of his bomb and ultimate failure of getting Optimus to destroy his own Maximals, Zodiac may have been left without any alternatives. Especially after his cohorts had been destroyed.

"He doesn't care what happens to this planet as long as he gets revenge," Nemesis explained, "He came here to settle a score with Optimus. That's why he planted a bomb as the Maximal base and rigged it so that Primal would be the one to set it off. He didn't simply want the Maximals to die, he wanted Primal to be the one responsible. " She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I theorize that he eliminated his opportunity to return to wherever he came from when he decided to pursue his personal vendettas, so when his plans failed he decided to take a more drastic approach. He doesn't care about the danger he's putting the planet in as long as he accomplishes what he set out to do. It's simply of no consequence to him since he can escape this planet easily enough."


As far as wiping out the other Decepticons that still slumbered on this planet, Nemesis doubted Zodiac would care much. Destroying the planet would end Megatron and some of his troops, sure, but there were other Decepticons still living on Cybertron and even other colonies back then. It would rewrite their history, for sure, but depending on where Zodiac's ancestors hailed from, it might not affect him at all.
"It will not come to that my lord, we WILL neutralize this rogue long before he can go through with his madness!
"Well said Deathroll, now lets quicken the pace shall we? I do not trust the maximals to handle a crisis of this magnitude on their own, nnnnoooo, such complicated matters are best left to Predacon hands. ONWARDS!"
Nemesis was more than happy to oblige. After all Zodiac had been prepared to sacrifice her alongside the Maximals. She activated her thrusters and sped up, easily keeping up and actually having to hold back a bit so she wouldn't surpass the rest of them.

Aurora worked as quickly as she could with fastening the equipment and preparing for the next quake, should there be one. But as the temperatures kept climbing, it was getting more and more difficult to concentrate. She felt warm to the point she was getting lightheaded and a little dizzy, her feet starting to feel like they were sticking to the floor a bit from the excessive heat.
"Aurora," he called through his comm. link, "how are you managing?"

"I have been better,"
the fuzor admitted as she tied down another strap, "If this continues, we don't have long before the entire base melts. Maybe we should.." She stopped in her tracks as she noticed a spot on the floor that seemed to be moving. It didn't take long before she realized that the floor had actually started melting in that spot.

"Rhinox, I think we're just about out of time!," she called back to him, "Where are you? We have to get out of here!" Her voice was getting a bit more panicky by the second and she found herself climbing up on some furniture to avoid standing on the melting floor. Her wings, the most fragile part of her body, were starting to hurt as well. A burning and extremely painful sensation that caused her to scream out in pure horror as the wings started folding in on themselves, slowly melting from the excruciating heat.

Unbeknownst to her, Ironclaw was about to save them at the last possible moment. At the same time he sabotaged the machine to stop the constant flow of molten hot lava, Aurora had curled up in a fetal position on top of the furniture she had taken shelter on. All around her the floor had started melting, some of the walls as well. Aurora gasped in pain, only slowly starting to realize it was getting easier to breathe again.

Meanwhile Zodiac had made his way through the intricate system of tunnels that led down to the alien machine. The entrance to the cave had been sealed by a rock slide as he made his way outside, burying the pesky badger in his tomb. A fitting end to the annoying agent that had been sent to kill him. Of course the shape shifter had no intention of letting the Maximal elders get away with it. It might take a little time to get off this planet and locate and go through the rift again, but Zodiac had nothing but time. His team mates were gone, so was his old life. He didn't have to answer to anyone now, a fact he planned to take advantage off to the fullest. And by now the Axalon should be nothing more than a molten hole in the ground. Indeed, the future was looking brighter already.

He suddenly stopped his movements as his chest suddenly hurt, causing Zodiac to grasp the spot with his hand as he almost keeled over from the unexpected sensation. It wasn't exactly truly painful so much as it was unexpected and uncomfortable. He was just about to run his self-diagnostics when he realized that the sensation was actually transferred through the link. There was a familiarity to it yet strangely it felt completely foreign as well. Kind of like how he used to feel before he grew accustomed to the technology that had been merged with his own. Feeling it now was peculiar. Was he sensing Whitegrazer's demise through the link? But why did it feel like repairs were being made? Like..

It couldn't be. Those nanomachines had been merged to his own systems. Without his unique signature, they shouldn't even be alive much less functional.

Still.. It almost felt as if they called out for him, for his guidance, through the involuntary link he shared with the female. But at the same time they seemed to have an agenda of their own. Zodiac attempted to hail them through the link, pondering if he could control them still even when they weren't in his body.

He was abruptly interrupted by the massive quantities of emotions that hit him like a brick wall. Staggering backwards, his head feeling like it was about to implode from the extreme overload of thoughts, feelings and memories leaking through the mental connection he shared with the female, Zodiac had little choice but to attempt to silence the emotions and voices as best he could. It was simply too overwhelming.

And soon enough the voices quieted down, if only due to force of willpower. Zodiac drew a silent sigh of relief and walked the last few paces to the opening in the mountainside wall. Almost as an afterthought, he changed his appearance to match that of Ironclaw before he exited the tunnel.
Last edited by Phoenix on Tue Mar 29, 2016 8:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Blackarachnia wrote: "Yo! Do you guys know what is going on inside there? Landslide? Horsey!"

Rattrap wrote:"I'm done, Landslide. See if dat works."

Whitegrazer wrote: "Ironclaw is alive. Something is happening. A cave-in," "All I know is that, from what I felt from Zodiac, the device would cause massive earthquakes that could tear our ship apart. Think of how Darksyde is sitting above lava. Except our base would soon collapse into it. And Darksyde would follow surely after. ""I don't know about the device or how to stop it. Alien technology is tricky. Destroying it could work or it could cause even more devastation. We need to get there and see for ourselves."

Whitegrazer wrote:"The nanomachines," "They're trying to fix my spark injury." "Ironclaw is trapped in the cave-in. The device he has it."


It took a moment, but Landslide activated the cooling device, then turned it off. Working fine Lad. Landslide looked up at the sky, then looked back towards the mountain. Cave-in huh? I can't exactly leave im' down there.. You guys try to keep with yer plan and Zodiac somehow, I'll be back with Ironclaw.. I hope. Landslide shifted allowing Rattrap to slide out, his tailgate and cargobay closed up as he transformed to his beetle mode, then walked towards a rock wall, pushing some of the snow on the ground out of the way with his large horn, his antenna moved down touching along the ground and rock wall as he started to detect the components in the ground. Glass, Volcanic rock, Sulfur, iron, Energon.. It was faint, but there didn't seem to be any other sources of energon in the area, so it had to be Ironclaw.

Alright, I think I found im'. Landslide said, the blade on his horn started up as he plunged his head into the ground making a deafening grinding sound, moving it around as he burrowed into the ground, using his legs to push broken up rock out of the tunnel behind him until he disappeared from view. Landslide just hopped he get could to Ironclaw in time, as he wasn't exactly the fastest digger, though faster then the other Maximals, outside of perhaps Ironclaw himself.
Last edited by NaitoKage on Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Phoenix wrote: Nemesis listened to Terrorsaur's words, finding them to be very shortsighted and witnessing of the red transmetal's ignorance. Although she didn't know exactly how Zodiac came across the alien technology, it was obvious he had been aware of this site before he even set foot on this planet. In fact Zodiac must have been in contact with the aliens because his armor was of the transmetal variety just like them.

"They visited more than one world..," she muttered, mostly to herself, while Megatron put Terrorsaur back in his place. The thought was a bit disturbing to say the least. Just how far did the aliens' influence, these Vok, reach? And yet the idea intrigued her. Had Zodiac visited another world like this one, one that the Vok had already made claim to, or had this happened on a Cybertronian settlement? If so, how would they have acquired Vok technology?

Images of her own search for Zodiac after she had made her escape flashed through her mind. Memories of a settlement laid barren, Zodiac's trail disappearing there, leaving Nemesis to believe he had perished in whatever catastrophic event had happened there.

"No doubt" Megatron muttered back, his keen audio receptors missing nothing as per usual, the predacon tyrant always on the alert for careless words of treachery, some may call that being paranoid, he called it being cautious.

However, Nemesis' assumptions regarding the Vok were more than likely correct, an advanced space faring race such as them, with the ability to create and destroy entire planets, had no doubt explored a considerable portion of outer space and likely had many more experimental worlds to toy with than the one they were on now. It was best not to dwell on it unless it became a serious threat to his plans or a means by which to further them.
Nemesis wrote: "He is no doubt using his nanomachines to bypass the alien technology's security features," Nemesis concurred. But Megatron did make a good point when he said that Zodiac likely did not fully comprehend the technology he was trying to use. None of them did, Nemesis suspected, even Megatron himself. Otherwise she had no doubt that the tyrant would have attempted to access the device for himself, even if he outwardly had deemed it as being unsafe to do so.

"Unfortunate" Megatron said with a snarl, optics narrowed as he quickened his pace in annoyance at the thought of this unwelcome visitor using his nanotechnology to "cheat code" his way into Vok technology he had actually worked and studied to understand.

"I don't suppose you are capable of similar feats? Perhaps you could wrest control away him? Power the weapon down before it reaches the point of no return?" Megatron inquired, potentially a safer means by which to end this threat than simply destroying the weapon as planned.
Phoenix wrote: Insane.. or desperate, Nemesis thought to herself. Using the device had clearly not been Zodiac's first choice. But with the discovery of his bomb and ultimate failure of getting Optimus to destroy his own Maximals, Zodiac may have been left without any alternatives. Especially after his cohorts had been destroyed.

"He doesn't care what happens to this planet as long as he gets revenge," Nemesis explained, "He came here to settle a score with Optimus. That's why he planted a bomb as the Maximal base and rigged it so that Primal would be the one to set it off. He didn't simply want the Maximals to die, he wanted Primal to be the one responsible. " She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I theorize that he eliminated his opportunity to return to wherever he came from when he decided to pursue his personal vendettas, so when his plans failed he decided to take a more drastic approach. He doesn't care about the danger he's putting the planet in as long as he accomplishes what he set out to do. It's simply of no consequence to him since he can escape this planet easily enough."


As far as wiping out the other Decepticons that still slumbered on this planet, Nemesis doubted Zodiac would care much. Destroying the planet would end Megatron and some of his troops, sure, but there were other Decepticons still living on Cybertron and even other colonies back then. It would rewrite their history, for sure, but depending on where Zodiac's ancestors hailed from, it might not affect him at all.

"This fool seems to be the self-destructive sort, all this effort to kill one mech and ultimately nothing to show for it but his own death. Whats the point of revenge if you can't live to savor your victory over the fallen?" Deathroll said, perplexed by the utterly psychotic actions of the prey they now chased.

"Revenge is a dish craved by many, Deathroll, myself included, but like anything else in this universe too much of a good thing can ultimately prove bad for you, yyyyeeesssss" Megatron stated sagely, leaving out "except for power" of course since that was common sense, and while Megatron HAD in fact nearly exstinguished his own spark trying to kill Primal and his maximals at the beginning of the Beast Wars, he had thought at the time his own life was forfeit and had intended to take his enemies to the grave with him.

Megatron fully intended to win this war and live to see Cybertron and his fellow predacons liberated from maximal oppression, he hated Primal, but he would not sacrifice himself carelessly to ensure his end like Zodiac was obviously willing to do, the fool.

"Nemesis, you know the location of the alien site correct? Scout ahead of us and inform me of what you find, be it a back entrance to Zodiac's new humble abode or maximal activity. We will join you shortly, and I do mean that" Megatron ordered, not failing to notice his second in command's desire to fly ahead of them to confront her old "friend," and deciding he may as well make use of that.

"But remember Commander, do not engage Zodiac without the rest of our party, I do so despise fair fights, and we ALL owe that turncoat the beating of a lifetime, yyyyyyeeeesssss" Megatron added before opening a comm to Umbra and asked "Umbra, report, have you reached the alien site yet?"


OOC: I was just gonna fly us there, but its been a while & I'm still re-familiarizing my self with the story so I figured I'd let Nemesis have her fun and scout ahead XD
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Unread post by Optimal Optimus Primal »

"Whoa! Was that the device or your Maximal's handiwork?"
A plume of dust, noise, and heat escaped the tunnel that Blackarachnia was about to lead them through, combined with the horrific and dangerous shaking of the entire mountain, Optimus almost called out to the female spider with concern, stopping himself short when he saw she was alright and hadn't entered it. This was growing far too grim and unsafe now. The whole mountain could collapse on them and bury anyone alive who was inside, including the badger. And what about the Axalon? No word from Rhinox yet... Was that good or bad? Optimus couldn't tell if Blackarachnia's words were meant as a joke, rhetorical or sincere, so he simply left it alone.
"Yo! Do you guys know what is going on inside there? Landslide? Horsey!"
Primal followed the Predacon's attention to the large beetle who was beginning to unload his passengers.
Working fine Lad.
"I know," Rattrap told Landslide, patting himself on the back.
"Trust me, Rattrap, if it was going to be that bad," "I would have walked."
"I ain't so sure about dat. And no way am I sendin' you into that mountain like this," Rattrap said as he watched her hunch over with her fist over her chest. She was in way too much pain and far too distracted. He caught himself this time to stay on his feet when the mountain side shook with the immense quake. The noise it made probably frightened him even more. How could the ground be so loud? Like thunder. Falling boulders and cave-ins were inevitable, he was certain. He made sure she exited Landslide safely before she started telling them what she thought was going on.
"Ironclaw is alive. Something is happening. A cave-in," "All I know is that, from what I felt from Zodiac, the device would cause massive earthquakes that could tear our ship apart. Think of how Darksyde is sitting above lava. Except our base would soon collapse into it. And Darksyde would follow surely after." "I don't know about the device or how to stop it. Alien technology is tricky. Destroying it could work or it could cause even more devastation. We need to get there and see for ourselves." "Ironclaw is trapped in the cave-in. The device he has it."
Okay, Ironclaw was still alive, that was good. If he managed to turn off the weapon, even better! But the rat wasn't crazy about an avalanche. If he was trapped, they would have to get him out. Some how... He looked at the massive mountain with the snow blowing around, some vents of heat dispersing into the blustery air. Rattrap looked over at Optimus and Blackarachnia, almost surprised that the ape was still standing and not paralyzed by her cyber venom. But they obviously heard Whitegrazer's explanation of the current situation judging by their expressions in their direction.
"The nanomachines," "They're trying to fix my spark injury."
That made the rodent shudder and look at Optimus who was clearly concerned for her well being but also relieved to see her. Having those machines running rampant inside of her body couldn't be a pleasant feeling. It was probably pretty intrusive... and just plain gross considering their origin. "Hang in there, 'Grazer," he tried encouraging her while optics seemed distant again. Leadership wasn't his strongest suit but he tried anyway. "You stay here and we'll handle de rest. Just guide us through it if you can."
Cave-in huh? I can't exactly leave im' down there.. You guys try to keep with yer plan and Zodiac somehow, I'll be back with Ironclaw.. I hope. Alright, I think I found im'.
"Be careful, 'Slider!" the Spy told him. As a fellow scavenger and digger, he could share in the mistakes and lack of precautions when it came to a job like this, rushed and careless to save someone else's life. "Dis mountain is practically falling apart and if you get buried, we got no way of diggin' ya out. ...Except for my demolition charges, but you might lose some limbs with dat option. Heh." All of them watched the beetle start his very loud digging and disappear into the ground and mountain to help their comrade.

Ever since the mare had mentioned that Ironclaw had reached the alien weapon, things seemed a little calmer. "Have the tremors subsided...?" Optimus asked thoughtfully. If the badger had managed to turn it off before he was buried, it would be a great advantage and one less thing to worry about.

"Rhinox, do ya copy, big guy? Do ya read me? Aurora?" Rattrap tried calling the Axalon. No answer. He frowned and looked at Optimus and Whitegrazer with worry. "Okay, it doesn't mean they're in danger... Maybe it just means our communication is disrupted or somethin'." He changed his comm.'s frequency to match the badger's and attempted, "Ironclaw? It's Rattrap. We're here. We're gonna get you out." Ironclaw was always secluding himself from the group, and disobeying, and most recently fought against their Captain in order to take leadership over them, but they couldn't just leave him behind buried in a mountain, especially if he just saved all of them from Zodiac's plan B of murder and mayhem, whether or not he knew the extent of damage that the Vok weapon could emit.

The blue gorilla nodded in agreement to try and assure the acting Commander. "There's nothing we can do from here. Rhinox knows how to take care of Aurora and the ship. We'll get back to them as soon as we're done here."

"Yeah, if dere's a ship ta get back to. Alright, Landslide's retrievin' Ironclaw... We just gotta find Zo-" Rattrap trailed off when he saw Optimus notice someone emerging from the tunnel. "Ironclaw?" he asked, puzzled as he glanced back at Landslide's massive hole who was going to retrieve the TransMetal badger.

It can't be Ironclaw... thought Optimus.

Landslide located his signature. This isn't the bounty hunter. How could it be? Or is the signature Landslide detected actually Zodiac? The suspense is killing us! I hope it'll last. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! the voice mocked in the ape's head.

Listening to the whisper despite its laughter, Optimus hesitated approaching the one stepping out of the tunnel. He couldn't tell if it was really Ironclaw or Zodiac in disguise. "Stand back, Blackarachnia," Primal warned her. He gripped the handle of his club tighter but didn't raise it just yet. Of course, his beast mode wasn't the best line of defense at the moment unless he needed to lead a threat away from his comrades via flight, but he refrained himself from panicking.

Careful... Careful... the voice whispered slowly and cautiously.

"Whitegrazer...?" Rattrap spoke softly to her, searching for her confirmation of who was really coming to greet them and who Landslide might have been chasing after. He pulled out his gun and one of his electrocuting-rigged demo charges.

"Careful, Landslide... We got somebody comin' out up here resemblin' Ironclaw..." he warned the beetle in case he was on a wild goose chase.

Optimus just glared at the other bot, his pink optics glued to him, looking a lot shorter now in his beast mode compared to Ironclaw's height in robot mode but that didn't make him intimidating. Primal wouldn't allow that. After all, he may have had their answer to this problem thanks to Aurora.

Soon. Very soon. We'll use it and watch him squirm... assuming it'll work.

It'll work. Aurora knows what she's doing. We'll stop him... once and for all. He eagerly anticipated stabbing Zodiac with that needle. He just wanted to see what it would do. He had to know.

-----
"I have been better," "If this continues, we don't have long before the entire base melts. Maybe we should.."
Rhinox listened to her while he worked diligently but almost on the verge of frantically. They couldn't communicate with their team in the field, and that was a problem, especially when they were about to lose their only base of operations. He grew deeply concerned when Aurora's voice was cut off. "Aurora?!"
"Rhinox, I think we're just about out of time!," "Where are you? We have to get out of here!"
"Try to stay calm, Aurora," he told her over their transmission. "I'm on the bridge, trying to re-establish our long-range radio. We have no communication with Rattrap's team. Where are you? Are you trapped? Can you glide yourself to safety? Look around, be resourceful," the engineer encouraged her. He just wanted her to remain calm and focused, letting her know that he was still there, that she wasn't alone. However, he refused to abandon ship at that moment. They could hold out a little longer. ...Couldn't they? Checking the ship's internal scanners, he acquired Aurora's location and started making his way to her in case there was no time to lose in order to help her. "I'm coming, Aurora!" he called out in the corridors, his voice echoing. The big ship shifted in its weight, perhaps one or more of the stilts losing its sturdiness. He slowed his pace when he noticed the floor flexing and molding around his large, heavy feet. He felt the warmth underneath and realized that their vessel was beginning to melt from the lava and incredibly hot steam that was escaping the cracks and crevasses created from the earth quakes underneath and around the broken exploration ship. Rhinox tried stepping more carefully as he made his way toward the young Fuzor. There was no way he was going to leave her behind. He'd sooner suffer with his legs melting through the floor than run to his own safety in hopes her being able to save herself. He grabbed a fire extinguisher nearby and was prepared to use it if necessary, whether it was to put out a fire or keep his feet cool enough to step on this warping metal floor that was absorbing the heat outside.
"Well, that's just prime!"
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Unread post by una »

((OOC: I'm posting Whitegrazer for now. Hopefully, my post is all right. If there is anything I need to change or edit, let me know. :D ))
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"I ain't so sure about dat. And no way am I sendin' you into that mountain like this,"
"I'm used to the pain. It's all right." Whitegrazer reassured Rattrap, but something told her he wouldn't believe her. Understanding, but even though she might not look like much in terms of offense, she knew how to endure pain better than anyone.
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Hang in there, 'Grazer," he tried encouraging her while optics seemed distant again. Leadership wasn't his strongest suit but he tried anyway. "You stay here and we'll handle de rest. Just guide us through it if you can."
She put a gentle hand on Rattrap's shoulder and smiled, sensing, knowing his uncertainty of being in such leadership role. Optimus has put Rattrap in this role many times during the Beast Wars. Mostly, temporary, but despite Rattrap's shortcomings, he tried to do what was best for the team and she was grateful for that.

"You are doing fine, Rattrap."
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Be careful, 'Slider!" the Spy told him. As a fellow scavenger and digger, he could share in the mistakes and lack of precautions when it came to a job like this, rushed and careless to save someone else's life. "Dis mountain is practically falling apart and if you get buried, we got no way of diggin' ya out. ...Except for my demolition charges, but you might lose some limbs with dat option. Heh."
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Have the tremors subsided...?"
Whitegrazer gazed at Optimus and smiled. Something felt different. She felt it. There was a sense of calm. Though, she kept herself ready. Zodiac still needed to be dealt with. She hoped for no more pain. Especially, towards Optimus. Especially him. She must do what she needed to to protect him. To help him. Because she felt responsible. Just like Optimus. She felt she needed to.
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Rhinox, do ya copy, big guy? Do ya read me? Aurora?" Rattrap tried calling the Axalon. No answer. He frowned and looked at Optimus and Whitegrazer with worry. "Okay, it doesn't mean they're in danger... Maybe it just means our communication is disrupted or somethin'."
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:There's nothing we can do from here. Rhinox knows how to take care of Aurora and the ship. We'll get back to them as soon as we're done here."
"Let me see..." she said to everyone.

She walked forward a bit. Looking towards the distance. The direction where she knew the Axalon was located. She closed her optics. Her thoughts going towards the Axalon. The nanomachines.... She felt them still inside her. Crawling, fixing, working together as one to fix such a deep injury. She wondered if the nanomachines had a sentient mind, wondering if they tried to understand what and how something or someone caused such an injury to her chest. To her spark. An injury so severe it took almost everything that was hers away. Because of their work, this planet was becoming more open to her than before. This planet looked alive, but now, it felt even more alive to her. Farther, farther, she struggled. It was getting difficult. But she pushed. And pushed. Pushed past the barriers until her very metal could breath, touch, and see the Axalon with her own eyes. There was a burning heat. Suffocating. Frantic. Trembling. Concern. Rhinox and Aurora... Ah! She could see them through. Rhinox... was on the bridge, trying to reestablish communication. With them.

"Rhinox is trying to communicate with us. There must be something wrong with our long-range communications."

Where was Aurora? She wasn't at the bridge. Aurora. Gripped her shoulder. There was a pain that suddenly grabbed her. Hot, searing pain. What? Was it Aurora? Was she injured? Then she felt the little one's presence. Clearly. There was fear. Worry for her comrades and herself and Rhinox just like she felt with Rhinox. Her wing... damaged by lava. She reached out, wanting to heal the little one's pain. Oh... if only she had that power. But she didn't it. Aurora, we are okay.

They were all right. They were all all right.

"The device... The trembling... It stopped." She turned around to face Optimus, Blackarachnia, Rattrap, and Landslide, smiling and relieved. "Ironclaw must have switched it off. They are okay."

Because of her push, desire to see if her friends were all right, she sensed the presence she felt before. Umbra. But still, she didn't feel threatened by him. He didn't make a move. Also, she was grateful towards the Predacon for helping her back on the Axalon. Treating her wounds as well as trusting her enough to tell them Zodiac's identity. But she felt another presence. Farther on, but approaching. The nanomachines... Not the ones she had. Not Zodiac's controled ones. Chaotic.

Nemesis.
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Yeah, if dere's a ship ta get back to. Alright, Landslide's retrievin' Ironclaw... We just gotta find Zo-" Rattrap trailed off when he saw Optimus notice someone emerging from the tunnel. "Ironclaw?"
Optimal Optimus Primal wrote:"Whitegrazer...?"
She looked towards Ironclaw. But she knew.... Felt Ironclaw. Trapped. Landslide burrowing through the mountain. She could feel hm. Getting closer and closer to Ironclaw. Not the one who was coming out of the mountain. "No, that's not Ironclaw. Ironclaw is still trapped in there. Landslide is close by the real one. "

She went forward, trying to place herself between Optimus and Zodiac. Zodiac... he seemed to be gripping his chest. Weakened.

You are feeling it too, aren't you? Your nanomachines... They are helping me. Was this the same pain you felt as well? Like Nemesis? She shook her head. It's over, Zodiac. There doesn't have to be anymore fighting or anger or pain here

Nemesis. Zodiac. The experiments they went through. It won't have happened. None of this would have happened.

If she didn't allow herself to be captured like that, by those Maximals scientists disguised as doctors, they wont have gone through so much. It was she that started this. Maybe she should be the one to... The mountain glowed blue for a moment before the blue transformed into a small beam that shot from the sky. Ironclaw was still in the mountain with the device. Nothing changed. What was that beam?

It is time to end this, Whitegrazer. But they aren't going to be so forgiving.
Last edited by una on Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Unread post by NaitoKage »

(Just to note Una. Landslide's burrowing, so he won't be standing near Zodiac. Also re-reading, seems Ironclaw isn't unconscious. His exit was just blocked.)
Rattrap wrote:"Be careful, 'Slider!""Dis mountain is practically falling apart and if you get buried, we got no way of diggin' ya out. ...Except for my demolition charges, but you might lose some limbs with dat option. Heh."


Landslide stopped for a moment responding on the radio Aye, been in a few collapses to know lad. Don't worry. He then resumed digging along, then came to a stop, sniffing around again with his antenna, then tapping the walls of the cavern with his horns listening for any pitch differences.
Rattrap wrote:"Careful, Landslide... We got somebody comin' out up here resemblin' Ironclaw..."
Landslide blinked Well, if Grazer's abilities are right, then that's probably our imposter lad. If you still aren't sure.. follow yer nose? Maybe Zodiac can't copy the smell of burnt badger. he responded on the radio, which had some static as he got further in. The further he went into the volcano/mountain, the less likely he'd have radio communication he thought to himself. Tapping against the walls again, he heard a different tone. It was probably a hollow spot. Turning his blade on he pressed it against the spot and started to dig through the rock, hot air starting to come out of the hole as he dug into a pre-existing tunnel, his six legs gripping to the ground and wall as he climbed down into the tunnel, turning the exterior lights attached to his horns on, he then saw a bright blue light flash through the tunnel. What the heck is that?! he said to himself, crawling along the wall of the tunnel towards it's entrance, noticing a musky odor as he got further into the volcano.

__________________________________________
Megatron wrote: "Umbra, report, have you reached the alien site yet?"


Umbra responded on his radio I don't have visual confirmation, but I believe so Lord Megatron. The Maximals entered this mountain as it was quaking, then came out running.. probably due to a collapse. The shaking however has stopped.. so they may have somehow done something.. The large beetle has burrowed into the side of the mountain now.

Umbra continued watching, noticing Ironclaw step out of the mountain, but didn't think anything strange of it as he couldn't hear any of the Maximals speak at this distance.
Phoenix
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Unread post by Phoenix »

"No doubt"
Although Megatron's response was short and to the point, Nemesis could almost hear the gears grinding inside the leader's head. No doubt he was bottling up a lot of anger and frustration, most of which he would no doubt unleash upon Zodiac when they caught up with him. Not that she'd blame Megatron in the least.

"
Unfortunate
"

Granted she was a bit curious to see just how far Megatron would take his vengeance. Night Terror was dead at Megatron's hand if that was any indication, but he had also been the one to infect Megatron with the virus. Nemesis suspected that the fact Zodiac may have orchestrated the event could come back to haunt him, even if they couldn't prove it.
"I don't suppose you are capable of similar feats? Perhaps you could wrest control away him? Power the weapon down before it reaches the point of no return?"
"Negative," Nemesis responded with a sigh, "I don't possess the ability to inflict that kind of control over mine so I wouldn't be able to use them against the alien machine." And a pity it was, for Nemesis would have given anything to have had the knowledge that the experiment would ultimately prove to be a success. Perhaps if she hadn't fled when she did, she could have achieved the same as Zodiac did. Although she had reached a breaking point when she made the decision to attempt escape, leaving her life as it had been for almost as long as she could remember, behind.
"This fool seems to be the self-destructive sort, all this effort to kill one mech and ultimately nothing to show for it but his own death. Whats the point of revenge if you can't live to savor your victory over the fallen?"


The female didn't have all the answers. Back when she knew Zodiac, before he had taken that name during his lengthy time away, he had been a drastically different individual. Sure, he'd always attempted to keep up a brave face, a fact she suspected was due to his desire to keep her spirits up, she knew it to be a lie. She could see the torment in his optics as they had dragged him back from the sessions of torture, hear it in his winces as he tended to his wounds afterwards, even known it from his silence during the periods in between. Everything had changed since then.
"Revenge is a dish craved by many, Deathroll, myself included, but like anything else in this universe too much of a good thing can ultimately prove bad for you, yyyyeeesssss"
Indeed. Still she wondered to what lengths Zodiac was willing to go. He had clearly lost everything. And someone without anything more to lose is the most dangerous foe of them all.
"Nemesis, you know the location of the alien site correct? Scout ahead of us and inform me of what you find, be it a back entrance to Zodiac's new humble abode or maximal activity. We will join you shortly, and I do mean that"


Finally!


"Your wish is my command!," Nemesis responded, grateful to hear Megatron's words.
"But remember Commander, do not engage Zodiac without the rest of our party, I do so despise fair fights, and we ALL owe that turncoat the beating of a lifetime, yyyyyyeeeesssss"
Well.. That added part did take some of the fun out of it, but the avian female was still looking forward to seeing what was going on at that mountain. She already knew some of the Maximals were there since Umbra had reported as much, but in the event that they were currently giving Zodiac that beating that Megatron so gleefully looked forward to, it was an encounter Nemesis did not want to miss.

She grinned inwardly at the thought as her afterburners kicked in and she suddenly picked up a tremendous amount of speed, heading straight for the mountain.

As she made her final approach there, she noticed a sudden beam of light ascending into the skies above the mountain. What the..? Curious, she transformed and skidded to a halt on the ground below, still far enough away to remain undetected. She hoped.

The Maximals were gathering near what seemed to be an entrance into the mountain. She counted five of them, including BlackArachnia. There was a hole in the ground as well, as if someone was attempting to dig their way to the weapon. Of course it was impossible for her to tell how many of them had already entered the hole. So far no sign of Zodiac though, so perhaps he was still inside the mountain.

"Megatron," she called back via com link, "There's Maximal presence here. No sign of Zodiac yet. Although something is happening at the mountain. Seems to be a signal emerging from the mountain into the sky."
"Try to stay calm, Aurora,"
The fuzor tried, oh how she tried, but the sensation of the heat was completely overwhelming her. Sure, it hadn't affected the rest of her armor yet, but her delicate wings were made of a very thin material and were not able to withstand the tremendous heat like the rest of her could. In a sense it was like the wings were melting, folding in on themselves in the process. And it hurt!
"I'm on the bridge, trying to re-establish our long-range radio. We have no communication with Rattrap's team. Where are you? Are you trapped? Can you glide yourself to safety? Look around, be resourceful,"
"Can't glide, my wings have been damaged," Aurora responded as she lifted her head, having to brush the now very sweaty lock of white fur out of her face so that she could take in her surroundings to see if there was anything she could use to help her get out. "This part of the ship seems to be sinking into the lava," she told him, thus far unaware that the weapon had stopped firing already. It would take a while for the metal and rock to cool back down.

Finally her optics settled on an ornament hanging on the wall nearby. It consisted mainly of spare parts from the battlefield, recovered after Waspinator had been blown up, and had been a great source of amusement while assembling it and also after. Perhaps now it could help her get to a save location.
"I'm coming, Aurora!"
Rhinox' encouraging words sounded a bit more frantic than what was common from the normally stoic engineer. A fact that made the fuzor appreciate his efforts to save her even more. She had no idea if her desperate idea would work so she most certainly was not about to stop him from lending her a helping hand. "Don't stop for energon on the way!," she called him back, letting him know that she wasn't hurt badly enough to have lost her sense of humor. Standing up on the furniture, she reached as far as she could to grab the ornament off the wall. As soon as she had it in her hand, she promptly proceeded to rip some of Waspinator's limbs off so that she could turn them into stilts of sorts and thus not have to walk on the partially melted floor. The process was crude and the end results no doubt looked a bit laughable, but at least it offered her a way to step relatively safely on the floor without harming herself further.

The first few steps were shaky at best, but at least she was able to move forward if not elegantly.

The pretender walked out of the cave entrance, as calmly and collected as he could with a resolute look on his face. For what he found outside did not exactly improve his mood any. The area had multiple Maximals on approach, among them he saw Optimus and Whitegrazer. Zodiac fought down the desire to attack them on sight, not wanting to reveal his true identity yet. If he could just hold them off a few more nanoclicks, allow the machine to complete its firing sequence and engulf the Axalon and the remaining Maximals there in its wake. Let them wallow in the knowledge of their friends' destruction, the friends they had clearly left behind.. Few things would bring him greater joy aside from getting to finish the rest of them off himself.

"Ironclaw? It's Rattrap. We're here. We're gonna get you out."
Of course the shapeshifter couldn't hear Rattrap's transmission. He might look and sound like the transmetal badger, but he was indeed a different individual. Without control over the Axalon's computer systems, he was not able to intercept their private messages any longer.

Above him, emerging from the top of the mountain, was a blue beam of light. Zodiac took note of the fact, even though he wasn't quite sure what it meant. Was it a signal that the machine had finished its work? The constant tremors seemed to have halted too. Perhaps that was indeed the case.

His determination growing, he focused his attention on Optimus and started making his way there. For the sake of keeping up the appearance of having been in a battle, he deliberately walked with a slight limp and with one arm hanging seemingly loosely at his side as if he lacked the strength to bring it back up.

"You're too late," the shapeshifter told Optimus in Ironclaw's voice as he got closer, "I've already completed my mission. The freak of nature is no more."

Of course those words could be applied to the real Ironclw as well as the remaining Maximals.. now that there was nothing left of the Axalon as Primal was soon about to discover. He gave Optimus a look well reminiscent of the badger's anger issues and superiority complex. Of course Whitegrazer was about to make his act a tad more difficult to keep up.

You are feeling it too, aren't you? Your nanomachines... They are helping me. Was this the same pain you felt as well? Like Nemesis? It's over, Zodiac. There doesn't have to be anymore fighting or anger or pain here


Trying extremely hard not to look at her, as if he knew she would see right through his disguise if he did, Zodiac again found himself wondering to what extent he would be able to use their link to control his nanomachines that were now occupying her body. It was only a small amount of them compared to the ones that remained within him, of course, but there should be enough to have them extinguish that spark they were now repairing. Anything to get her out of his head!

It's over, is it? His mental voice would have come across as challenging to her, spiteful, hateful, ever refusing to back down. So you expect me to simply give up? Return to prison and await sentencing like a good little mech? You truly must have lost your mind. Now instead of bothering me, why don't you focus your attention on your poor comrades back at the Axalon? Oh that's right. By now the weapon has run its course, leaving them all dead in an even more merciless way than I originally intended. They are now nothing more than piles of molten metal at the bottom of a crater. And it's your fault!
Optimal Optimus Primal
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Unread post by Optimal Optimus Primal »

"I'm used to the pain. It's all right."
Rattrap shook his head at Whitegrazer. It sure didn't seem like she was "used to the pain". Had nanobots ever invaded her body and system before? Touched her spark? Has a psychopath ever been inside her head before? As far as he was concerned, she was just being stubborn.
"You are doing fine, Rattrap."
"Eh. It probably ain't gonna matter," he said quietly with a dismissive shrug, suggesting that they were all going to die.
Aye, been in a few collapses to know lad. Don't worry.
"Yeah, but with a whole mountain about ta fall on ya?" he said rhetorically to the beetle.

Optimus noticed Whitegrazer smile at him but he failed to smile back. His optics were alert but grim. They were cold and distant. He may have appeared calm but he wasn't entirely in control anymore. Since she had blocked him off, he had no one else to ease his troubles and pain, to push the whispers aside, to heal the pain that Megatron caused. Pain that, unlike Whitegrazer, he had never felt or dealt with before, along with the trauma and manipulation that Zodiac had caused. He could see her anguish in her optics but there was nothing he could do. Nothing to do but blame Zodiac.
"Let me see..." "Rhinox is trying to communicate with us. There must be something wrong with our long-range communications." "The device... The trembling... It stopped." "Ironclaw must have switched it off. They are okay."
If that was the case, then despite their differences recent brawl, Optimus owed a great deal of gratitude toward Ironclaw, whether or not he knew he was saving them and quite possibly the entire planet. But was he okay? Had Landslide reached him yet?

Rattrap was also relieved to hear that everyone was alright. If they didn't need to worry about the alien weapon anymore, then all they needed to do was stop Zodiac. ...Hopefully without any Predacon interference... But that kind of luck was never on their side. He was certain Megatron would show his ugly face soon.
"No, that's not Ironclaw. Ironclaw is still trapped in there. Landslide is close by the real one."
Well, if Grazer's abilities are right, then that's probably our imposter lad. If you still aren't sure.. follow yer nose? Maybe Zodiac can't copy the smell of burnt badger.
Rattrap wasn't close enough to smell if the one approaching them was Zodiac or Ironclaw, and the wind would have been blowing it in the opposite direction, but he did trust Whitegrazer's Empath senses, especially since she had a connection to the shape shifter with his own nanotech. So he brushed his index finger over the trigger of his gun and watched limping silhouette get closer to the exit of the tunnel while the wind blew cold, crisp gusts. "Alright, so lemme know when ya reach Ironclaw," he told Landslide over his comm. link.

Returning his club to his back and maximizing to his robot mode, Optimus stretched his arm out to stop Whitegrazer from getting in between him and the fake Ironclaw like she had intended. He licked the scar across his mouth and shook his head at her to tell her to stand back. It was then when a bright blue beam erupted from the mountain and shot up toward the sky. He watched it while taken aback and then with great concern. His original crew had seen this kind of beam before. "...No..." he muttered, drained it seemed, all too familiar with this activity.

MEGATROOOOOOOOON! Primal's mind flash-backed in a panic.

It is too late. You and your enemies have already contaminated the project. Begin termination sequence, he recalled in Unicron's voice.

You can't do that! Even you with all your power! You have no right! Optimus argued.

What was that?! Cheetor's voice said, bearing witness. Or who. Maybe we'll find out some day, Rhinox's voice jumped about in the recollection, after them witnessing one of the prior beams shooting to space.

The Beast Wars are over, Optimus! You LOSE! Megatron's voice haunted him.

NOOOOOOOOOO! Primal's spark raced as his breathing increased, his mind replaying the Vok happenings and his death over and over.

...Whitegrazer... his voice whispered inside his mind, remembering reaching out for her when he lost his body. Remembering the overwhelming feeling of helplessness and leaving his Maximals behind.

Begin termination sequence, his mind repeated in the Vok's disguised voice.

You LOSE! Megatron's voice repeated, added with a bellow of laughter, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

MEGATROOOOOOOOOON! The voices echoed and filled his mind. Then, suddenly, silence.

We recognize the beam, one of the whispers said.

"I recognize the beam," Optimus repeated the voice out loud, intended for the others to listen as he stared up to the cloudy sky where the beam had shot through.

Now they'll know that the planet still exists. We still exist, it coerced him. Their fake-moon weapon failed.

"Now they'll know that the planet still exists. We still exist. Their fake-moon weapon failed."

They're going to come back.

"They're going to come back. Thanks to Zodiac activating their machine here." His gaze lowered to "Ironclaw" who was stepping out of the tunnel.

Rattrap watched Optimus curiously and realized what he was talking about. "He's right. Whenever dese beams fire up ta space, the aliens always respond. Every time it does, it let's 'em know dat we're still here." He glanced at Whitegrazer and Blackarachnia with concern.

We know what to do, don't we?

Yes.

Zodiac just told the Vok that we're still here, you and your Maximals. Now they're in danger again. Zodiac continues to put them in harm's way. Last time he tried making you responsible for their deaths! What has he done with Nexus Prime, your mentor, your father-figure, your teacher? But Nexus deceived you, didn't he? He's not so innocent, which makes you just as guilty for being involved. We must stop him. We can do it together. Yessss.

Careful... Optimus told the whisper. We have him before us. We have the solution.
"You're too late," "I've already completed my mission. The freak of nature is no more."
"Is that so?" Optimus said with a sudden change of his prior demeanor, seeming more joyful and relieved with a lighter tone in his voice. He pretended to believe that this was really Ironclaw walking toward him. Sure it looked like the badger and that he had recently been in a battle with the shapeshifter and suffered some injuries, but fortunately, Whitegrazer could see past his disguise.

Yes, let him get closer... Play his game...

"Then I suppose praise and gratitude is in order. We almost lost the Axalon, but thanks to you and your quick actions, you managed to stop Dirge, Zodiac, and deactivate the weapon. Well done, Ironclaw," Primal said as convincingly as he could while making it a casual conversation. Actually, it was almost mockingly since Zodiac may not have known that the earthquakes had stopped and did not decimate the Maximal base after all. His plan failed. Does he still take us for fools?! he thought angrily with insult. Slowly, his right hand rested on his gun attached to his hip, but he didn't wield it just yet. Maybe he wanted Zodiac to see his subtle move, maybe not. It didn't matter. The shape shifter was alone now on this planet. Even though they may have shared pasts, and maybe even friendship, his carelessness toward Nemesis's life in order to kill all of the Maximals, proving to her that she was expendable to him, surely made him an outcast. What else was he to do now? Find more Vok weapons and try to destroy them again? He thought not. "Zodiac was never a match for us. Unfortunately, I would have liked to have known how he knew about this weapon and how to use it. And on a personal note, I would've liked to have found out what really happened to Nexus. What's worse, that beam was a communication signal to the Vok, finally alerting them that their planet-buster failed to blow up Earth," he said as a matter of fact. "Now that they'll know we're still here, they'll be paying us another visit." Some of his wording hoped it would draw Zodiac out of his disguise. If he was such a know-it-all and enjoyed making Optimus suffer and belittle him, maybe he wouldn't be able to contain himself. Surely he'd like to rub it in his face all the knowledge he knows since Optimus was throwing the things he knew in his face to purposely "get under his skin". Of course, this method was easier with Megatron who had a hotter temper than Zodiac. It may not fool Zodiac. But Primal was also curious just how long this fraud was going to keep up this impersonation that they all knew was fake.

-----
"Can't glide, my wings have been damaged," "This part of the ship seems to be sinking into the lava,"
Rhinox tried to hurry upon hearing her predicament, but he had to step lighter now as he noticed the metal flooring warping and bending to heat trapped below it. "Maybe... Or it's just the immense heat from the vents created by the quakes." He used some of the fire extinguisher to cool down his feet.
"Don't stop for energon on the way!,"
The engineer almost chuckled but he took their situation quite seriously. And in serious situations he was always the last one to laugh. However, her lightheartedness told him that she was not doomed, and although probably scared or frantic, she was not completely engulfed or frozen in fear that would make her immobile both physically and mentally. That was a good thing. Reaching the area where the young Fuzor was located, he couldn't get any closer because of his weight, otherwise he'd fall through the flooring. "I'm here, Aurora!" he called out to her. "But I'm afraid this is the farthest that I can approach." He sprayed more of the extinguisher across the floor and his feet. Despite the fans and ventilation running overtime, it was very hot in this sector of the ship, but since she was much lighter, she should be able to scurry across, or maybe even make a zip-line if they had to. It was then when he noticed her turn into the corridor on her "stilts", and he finally managed a smile noticing what she was using; some spare Waspinator limbs that Rattrap had collected over time. He knew she could be a successful opportunist. She did exactly what he knew she could do; adapt and survive. "Well, it works," he admitted to her, grinning, and motioning her to hurry to him so they could get back to the command center and possibly evacuate if it was necessary. "At least it seems the earthquakes have stopped," the engineer said with great relief. Now they just needed to deal with this heat and rivers of lava flowing underneath their ship.
"Well, that's just prime!"
Phoenix
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Unread post by Phoenix »

(ooc So while we wait for Una, DS, Mystrea etc to post, I'm just going to move things forward a bit.)

Zodiac approached Primal with some degree of caution, not wanting to be caught off guard. Although Primal seemed pleased to see him, perhaps even strangely so given his rather strained relationship with Ironclaw, the shape shifter had a hard time allowing himself to relax. Perhaps it was due to the presence of Whitegrazer, a female who had proved herself to be a thorn in his side more than once. With her in close proximity, the voice in his head had become louder, clearer. And yet, despite the fact that she was standing only a short distance away now, she was being strangely quiet. As if she was hiding her thoughts from him, not wanting him to hear them.

Why?


When they were this close, he could actually sense his own nanomachines within her. They seemed scattered, confused, divided in their loyalty between their host body and the familiar voice in her head. They recognized their master, offering him their blind obedience, yet at the same time they lacked the sentience to understand why their host felt different.. alien to them.
It's over, Zodiac.
No! He refused to listen, did not wish to hear her simple truth. Zodiac let the matter rest if only for the moment, as his attention was needed elsewhere.

The beam shooting into the sky was still ongoing, effectively functioning like a beacon leading to this place. And off in the distance he thought he saw somebody land, a familiar shape he quite easily recognized as the female he was once locked up with. Nemesis. Surely the other Predacons were not far behind her. This place was getting entirely too crowded and the shape shifter was right in the center of all this unwanted attention.

Having taken notice of the fact Whitegrazer had moved closer to them, as if wanting to shelter her beloved Optimus from him, the pretender could not avoid glancing in her general direction despite his earlier attempt to avoid her gaze as if to avoid attracting her attention. Yet here she was, standing only a short distance away from them. And for good reason, for there were few things the shape shifter wanted more than to rip the head clear off the Maximal commander's shoulder. But alas he couldn't do so right now, not without revealing his cover entirely to both the remaining Maximals and approaching Predacons.
"Is that so?"
Optimus' voice reflected the apparent high spirits he saw on Optimus' face. He seemed genuinely pleased to see him and hear his brief update, despite the fact the badger had just revoked any chance Optimus had of getting revenge.. or the truth. He must have known that his base was in danger when he left there, leaving some of his team back at base in the process. Those team members were now surely gone, swallowed up by the ground itself, so why the cheerful face..?
It's over, Zodiac.
Again the female's voice repeated in his mind, and again the shape shifter fought down that feeling of doubt that had started developing.
"Then I suppose praise and gratitude is in order. We almost lost the Axalon, but thanks to you and your quick actions, you managed to stop Dirge, Zodiac, and deactivate the weapon. Well done, Ironclaw,"
Deactivated the weapon.. That was the only part of the sentence that Zodiac managed to process. And for but a moment he hesitantly looked to the mountain where he had left Ironclaw buried underneath tons of rock, certain the transmetal badger had been crushed and lay in pieces in his own little tomb. He then turned his gaze to meet that of the white female, his optics locking with hers for a split second while he tried to read the strangely neutral expression on her face and in her eyes.

She knew. She knew not only that he was alive, but also that he was not the one buried underground. He was certain of it.

Was Optimus lying about the weapon being deactivated in time to spare his base? His precious Maximals? Although the pretender was not entirely sure what game the commander was playing, but he did not believe he was capable of maintaining a calm exterior like that if his friends were still in danger. The quakes had stopped, Zodiac had noticed that too, but at the time he simply assumed that meant that the weapon had completed its firing cycle.

Seeing Optimus stare at him, awaiting a response, the shape shifter merely nodded. He truly was at a loss for words right now, and his throat felt dry, so very dry.
It's over, Zodiac.
Shut up!, he finally snapped back at the female through their link, glaring at her for a brief moment, before realizing it had only been his own mind replaying her words. He inadvertently took a slight step back, straining himself to maintain control even as what was left of his entire world came crashing down around him.
"Zodiac was never a match for us. Unfortunately, I would have liked to have known how he knew about this weapon and how to use it. And on a personal note, I would've liked to have found out what really happened to Nexus. What's worse, that beam was a communication signal to the Vok, finally alerting them that their planet-buster failed to blow up Earth," he said as a matter of fact. "Now that they'll know we're still here, they'll be paying us another visit."
Primal's little snide remark about his person didn't phase him much. The confirmation that the beam of light was indeed a signal to the aliens was a lot more concerning. He had seen the results of the aliens, these Vok's, wrath in the past. And if they found him, they would surely realize that he was the result of Cybertronians experimenting on Vok technology. Sudden flashes of the tortures he went through during the implementation process appeared in his mind, some surely bleeding through the link to Whitegrazer, before they faded away again.

Of course. Of course there had to have been a beacon implanted into the machine, some way to communicate to the aliens that the machine had been activated! His nanomachines may be based on captured alien technology, but somehow he knew the aliens would not have given permission to use their machines to further his own goals. Well wasn't that just Prime..! So this is what it had come down to. He had become the target of not only the Maximals, but the Predacons, the aliens, and his old employers as well. Each and every one of them would no doubt like to have words with him about what he had been up to. And they were encounters Zodiac would prefer to avoid if he could at all help it.

"That is unfortunate," he finally managed to say, returning his attention to Optimus. "We should probably return to the Axalon so we can discuss our response to this Vok threat with the others there."

He turned and started to depart on foot, wanting little more than to leave this place and all its failures behind. Let the Maximals and Predacons deal with the aliens while he made his escape off this accursed planet, yes, that would be his next course of action.
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Unread post by DarkSpark »

Naitokage wrote: Umbra responded on his radio I don't have visual confirmation, but I believe so Lord Megatron. The Maximals entered this mountain as it was quaking, then came out running.. probably due to a collapse. The shaking however has stopped.. so they may have somehow done something.. The large beetle has burrowed into the side of the mountain now.

Umbra continued watching, noticing Ironclaw step out of the mountain, but didn't think anything strange of it as he couldn't hear any of the Maximals speak at this distance.

"No doubt Zodiac's doing, its possible that the machine caused the collapse on its own, but its just as likely that Zodiac himself created the cave in to prevent anyone from reaching the weapon and putting a stop to this madness. Following the entrance the beetle made and stay out of sight, make sure the weapon is disabled safely and as always, pick off anyone that you can, the fewer enemies I have, the better" Megatron commanded, knowing that his stealthy octopus operative could easily conceal himself and traverse the mountain's interior far more easily than the oversized maximal bug.

He then added "You will have backup shortly, Subcommander Deathroll shall meet you inside to aid in your task, Megatron out."

"It will be my pleasure Lord Megatron, Zodiac's plan is as good as thwarted, and the maximals are simply already dead, whether they know it or not" Deathroll replied, eager to get back on the ground already and make use of his new abilities to take first blood from the maximals.

"I suspected as such Subcommander, but be careful, the maximals have a sadly long and sordid career of not going down without a fight, show no mercy, but above all else, destroy the quake generator" Megatron commanded, Deathroll nodding in obedience and agreement.

Phoenix wrote: "Negative," Nemesis responded with a sigh, "I don't possess the ability to inflict that kind of control over mine so I wouldn't be able to use them against the alien machine." And a pity it was, for Nemesis would have given anything to have had the knowledge that the experiment would ultimately prove to be a success. Perhaps if she hadn't fled when she did, she could have achieved the same as Zodiac did. Although she had reached a breaking point when she made the decision to attempt escape, leaving her life as it had been for almost as long as she could remember, behind.

"Oh well, wishful thinking I suppose, regardless, good to know what my soldiers can and cannot do, makes strategizing faster and simpler, and there are of course always the old fashioned methods of getting work done, yyyyyeessss" Megatron replied, giving up any chance of gaining control over the alien weapon, he would just have to cut his losses and destroy it, no use in weeping over spilt energon.

Phoenix wrote: "Your wish is my command!," Nemesis responded, grateful to hear Megatron's words.

"Ah, that's what I like to hear, yyyyyesssss" Megatron replied as he watched Nemesis take off into the distance, chuckling at both her eagerness for action and the slight disappointment he sensed from him ordering her to wait for the rest of them once they got there...She was likely the second oldest Predacon in his army after Deathroll, and yet sometimes she could seem so youthful in her mannerisms.
Phoenix wrote: "Megatron," she called back via com link, "There's Maximal presence here. No sign of Zodiac yet. Although something is happening at the mountain. Seems to be a signal emerging from the mountain into the sky."

"NO! The fool! He'll draw the Vok's attention back to us too soon!" Megatron growled, his wrathful bellows sounding like thunder as he ordered "Join Umbra on the inside, I want that weapon destroyed and more importantly its signal cut off immediately!"

Megatron had long studied the Vok's relics and technology since he had become aware of their influence over this planet, but he had hoped to keep up the charade of earth having been wiped out by their lunar weapon for much longer, now chances were good that they would soon know he had thwarted their attempt to destroy the decepticons resting place and would no doubt return to finish what they had started. Wretched aliens, why couldn't they stay out of his affairs?

"Terrorsaur, Waspinator, take Deathroll down to the ground so he may begin his mission, then return to formation, go!" Megatron ordered, Terrorsaur and Waspinator obeying him wordlessly out of fear of invoking his ire in his current state of mind, but also relieved to ease their burden, carrying the transmetal gator all this way had not been easy.

"Deathroll, terrorize!" the gator exclaimed as the flyers dropped him as they neared the ground, the ex-decepticon transforming into his drill tank mode as he burrowed into the earth with explosive force, beginning his journey to the mountain that had only just come into visual range for the predacons.

"This is my chance for glory, to prove myself worthy of my new station....No one will stand in my way!" Deathroll promised to himself as he mentally prepared for the battle ahead, burrowing as fast as he could through the ground, devastating rocks and soil and tree roots alike on his way to the alien site.

The maximals were in for an unpleasant first, and last, meeting with the predacon's new Subcommander!
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