The Intergalactic Highway

((Yeah! We can use her evil version from Armada. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Airazor_%28Armada%29)

(( OOC: No worries, WorpeX. I have no idea what the Preds are up to (probably just heading back to base by now), although some of them could try attacking Whitegrazer since she is alone and Optimus is unconscious. You know, if any of them want to make her trek back a little more interesting like Blazemane's post sort of hinted at... Poor 'Grazer. As for Airazor and Tigatron (can't remember the third one that was with them... Valkyrie? It's been too long!), they were walking over to OP's group, which has since dispersed to either take OP back to base, or to help retrieve Orcariner. That's pretty much it. In fact, I think I'll have Tigatron join Whitegrazer, so whether or not you decide to pick up Airazor to give yourself something to do while you wait for the next episode to begin, she could either help the others with Orcariner, or provide aerial cover for Whitegrazer and Tigatron. Manterror could attack Whitegrazer's group, if you wanted to go that route as well. Just tossing out some ideas if you're bored.

@ N-H: Noooooo, Saber! Get back here! That darn cat.

Ooooo. That's an interesting idea for a cloned Airazor. Yesss. ))

"Don't worry, I got you."

Having been caught by Whitegrazer's quick reflexes before he hit the ground, the heavy gorilla was lifted into her arms and carried off in the direction of the Axalon.

"This is going to be a nice walk, isn't it?" "My dampeners will hold. They better." "This reminds me of a time when my squad and I will ambush and stuck behind enemy lines. Well, I know this technically isn't enemy lines but hopefully, you know what I mean. I had to carry my wounded comrades out of Predacon grounds. Our commander, who by the way wasn't as compassionate and tolerant as you," " gave us orders to bomb a Predacon outpost. I wanted to be more stealthy and cause an evaluation to minimize casualities. I hate killing which ticked off many Maximals. Heh, they didn't like me anyways. Our commander knew what I was going to do and override my orders to the rookies. Almost blew me up with the Predacons. My fault, actually. I decided to warn the Predacons so they could escape. Oh boy, you should have seen the comman...wait a minute...I'm confusing stories." "Oh no, this is the same because the explosion caused reinforcements to arrive. So many of them. The Predacon outpost was really a trap. They knew we were going to hit it and they captured us. You weren't believe how many times I have been in chains. I think the total is six, not counting that rendevous I had with that Tripredicus Agent, who tried to reprogram me. That was my fault too. I was using him to escape, knowing he was going to betray me. I sensed it. I was right too. Oh, I rambled. Back to the prison camp, I had to do whatever it took to keep those rookies safe. Predacons don't like smart mouths. Well, those we encountered didn't. We got out with me carrying all three of them. The commander was happy to see them alive. I didn't get a happy glance though. Well, I got chewed out. I took it though. At least , the rookies liked me."

(( OOC: Whitegrazer is so sweet and loveable. I love that you wrote all of that, una. ))

Unfortunately, Optimus could not hear any of what Whitegrazer said. He wished he could have had he been conscious. Instead, he laid limp and lifeless in her arms, silent and peaceful with his eyes closed while she talked aloud to herself and walked. Her positive reflection on her memories provided a good energy, though, and his spark could feel it.

"I will escort Whitegrazer and Optimus back to Base," Tigatron informed the sweet Airazor above before breaking off from their original path and making his way after the white horse and gorilla, careful with every step as it pained the gash in his hind leg that he had obtained from the alien clone.

Trotting up in beast mode with a limp behind Whitegrazer, Tigatron approached them, just missing her conversation with herself. He had heard her voice but had been too far back to comprehend anything she had said by the time he caught up. He assumed they had just been words of comfort for their wounded leader. The white tiger came up to her side and glanced up at her. "I thought it unwise for you to be traveling alone," he said with a kind voice. "If the Predacons knew Optimus' condition, they would surely attempt to finish him off." It wasn't a pleasant thought but it was an honest observation.

-----

"Give me a moment, and I promise you-"

"Come on you two worry about this at base."

Rattrap was about to interrupt Dinobot with a smart remark, but Wintersong beat him to it. As Dinobot had agreed with her, so did the rat, and he dropped the insults and jokes to focus on the matter at hand.

"A sixth sense could be as descriptive as you can get for that, hopefully it will stick around. Impeccable timing seems to be what we need these days."

Hm. The rodent was just being sarcastic with that comment he made earlier, but maybe there was some truth to it after all. After all, he did have a knack for getting things done just in time.

"Yea it's best to blow it into oblivion, I'll head up and help the others since they will need it."

Rattrap nodded, watching the white tigress climb out.

"I trust you will join us soon?"

"No, I'm stayin' down here in case any of those tentacles break and I gotta hand ya a new one," the rat answered the raptor. "And I'm gonna set up some demos to get rid of Orcariner's clone, but I can't do that until you guys get 'im outta here."

"Big 'Bot's out?" "What happened up here?"

"I read you," "Be wary of potential hostiles. Our battles are never truly over with the Predacons around."

"That's comforting," "We're sitting ducks out here."

"Indeed we are,"

Listening to Dinobot and Cheetor above, Rattrap commented with a more serious tone, "If they attack anyone, it's gonna be Whitegrazer 'cause she's all alone with Optimus who won't be able to fight back." That was nothing to joke about. "Pull 'im up, guys!" he shouted up to everyone.

((OOC: Optimus has a red target on him. I think Whitegrazer is slowly getting that too. I also see it more in Season 2 with what I plan Anyway, yeah like OOP said, Worpex, Airazor can be their aerial support and since Tigratron is here, more incentive *wink* *wink* And I miss crazy Manterror. XD

Something tells me I'm going to regret that. ))

Whitegrazer started humming abit, trying to think of what else she could tell the unconscious Optimus when she heard someone approaching. For a second, she kept a firm grip on Optimus, ready to protect him if it was a Predacon but the presence that she felt made her realize that it wasn't a Predacon. The steps coming towards her were light, graceful and she knew who it was.

Trotting up in beast mode with a limp behind Whitegrazer, Tigatron approached them, just missing her conversation with herself. He had heard her voice but had been too far back to comprehend anything she had said by the time he caught up. He assumed they had just been words of comfort for their wounded leader. The white tiger came up to her side and glanced up at her. "I thought it unwise for you to be traveling alone," he said with a kind voice. "If the Predacons knew Optimus' condition, they would surely attempt to finish him off." It wasn't a pleasant thought but it was an honest observation.

Whitegrazer smiled towards the white tiger, "I thank you. Four optics are better than two."

"Hopefully, we can get the honorable ones like Steelclaw." Whitegrazer said quietly. At least, he wouldn't kick a Maximal when they were down but she also knows that he was probably too weakened from the labyrinth. She hoped he would heal and also, Glowstick as well. The only thing different about them was the insignia. Just made her think how centuries ago, she couldn't grasp the disarray and divided society that was back on the planet of Cybertron. She understood now and didn't like it at all.

OOC: I was trying to convince him to throw Airazor in episode 5.5, but I was unsuccessful.

@ Una, I thought Whitegrazer talking to OP was SO cute!! LOL

"I will escort Whitegrazer and Optimus back to Base,"

The falcon had been flying just above Tigatron when they caught up to the other two. With one look at Optimus, it was clear that he had quite a rough day. "Looks like Optimus has first dibs on the CR chamber." Airazor said jokingly to her feline companion. While neither of them were in the best condition at the moment, at least they hadn't been been knocked offline completely. In fact, most of her own damages has been repaired from spending the last hour in beast mode. A nice hot oil bath would be all she needed now. "I'll keep an eye out for preds."

With that, she beat her wings and took off into the sky to get a better view. By now she figured that any sane predicon would have fled back to the base for repairs. However, it was a known fact that almost none of them were actually sane. Except perhaps Steelclaw. He seemed surprisingly intelligent. It would make him a difficult opponent.

---



Only a few clicks down the road was the perfect example of Airazor's thoughts. A predicon who was far from being sane. Manterror had begun working on a new strategy since his last few plans had completely backfired on him. First and foremost: He was going to be a free-agent. No more Predicons for him! Not after what the treacherous Sonar had done to him during the last battle. If there was one thing that was holding him down, it was his teammates. Without them he would be free to conduct his own plans and defeat the Maximals all by himself!

The first mission in his new campaign of terror was to capture Optimus. He had seen him get partially blown up before and knew that he was being taken back to the Maximal base in stasis lock. With him gone, the rest of the maximals would be easy pickings! To accomplish this goal he decided to use his razor blades for something a little bit more constructive. He had built himself a small little hut made from tree branches and held together by long blades of grass. It wasn't any larger than a outhouse, but it would serve his purpose well. The plan was to get the maximals to put OP inside so that he - manterror - could seal it up and lock him inside for good! For that to work, he cleverly made a sign which stated: "FREE ROBOT REPAIRS!" in large print.

With his fake CR Chamber now finished, Manterror transformed into beast mode and hid himself inside a bush not far from the trap. From this location he had a perfect view of his surroundings. It was just in time too, the Maximals would be approaching any minute!

---

Before even getting above the tree-tops, Airazor had seen something quite peculiar. Was that... a building? In the middle of the pathway? Something was not adding up here. Better inform Tigatron. "I see something strange a few clicks down the path. Be careful stripes, it may be a trap!"


((OOC: I hope this post made sense to everyone! I decided to try something fun/funny for a change of pace!))

((OOC: Really, Manterror? That's so funny. Love that post, Worpex. ))

The falcon had been flying just above Tigatron when they caught up to the other two. With one look at Optimus, it was clear that he had quite a rough day. "Looks like Optimus has first dibs on the CR chamber." Airazor said jokingly to her feline companion. While neither of them were in the best condition at the moment, at least they hadn't been been knocked offline completely. In fact, most of her own damages has been repaired from spending the last hour in beast mode. A nice hot oil bath would be all she needed now. "I'll keep an eye out for preds."

With Airazor in the air, she thought they were good to go. All they had to do was watch their surroundings. Anything can happen...

He had built himself a small little hut made from tree branches and held together by long blades of grass. It wasn't any larger than a outhouse, but it would serve his purpose well. The plan was to get the maximals to put OP inside so that he - manterror - could seal it up and lock him inside for good! For that to work, he cleverly made a sign which stated: "FREE ROBOT REPAIRS!" in large print.

Well...she didn't expect that.

"Ummm..." Whitegrazer looked at the obviously fake CR chamber with wide optics before she smiled in amusement, "I don't trust anything that's free." She looked at Tigratron.

She decided to keep walking but walked around it, "Be careful, guys, we are not alone." She was still smiling. Too bad.

She dropped her smile as she kept looking around, trying to see if she could see anyone. She turned on her commlink and whispered, "Airazor, do you see anyone?"

If things were going to turn hairy, Whitegrazer might have to have Airazor fly Optimus to base. First, she wanted to know how many Predacons there were. It would be bad if one decided to shoot at her in mid-air. That whole plan will totally backfire. They need to know who they were dealing with.

Whitegrazer hugged Optimus' body to her, keeping him firmly to her as she looked at trees and bushes. She just kept walking, keeping her senses on full alert.

(( OOC:

Whitegrazer hugged Optimus' body to her, keeping him firmly to her as she looked at trees and bushes. She just kept walking, keeping her senses on full alert.

Awwwe. ^^

@ WorpeX: Thanks for jumping back in! I loved your post. It reminded me of something from Looney Toons. Awesome. ))

"Looks like Optimus has first dibs on the CR chamber."

Tigatron gave Airazor a smile, agreeing. His injury would heal well on itself in beast mode. For the most part.

"I'll keep an eye out for preds."

Sending her a nod, the white tiger watched her soar upward with great speed and grace.

"I see something strange a few clicks down the path. Be careful stripes, it may be a trap!"

Giving a light growl in his throat, Tigatron responded to Airazor, "Understood," and took deep breaths inhaling long sniffs of the air to gather scents.

"Ummm..." "I don't trust anything that's free."

The large white cat glanced up at Whitegrazer and nodded after he, too, read the sign and studied the make-shift CR. What an odd, yet curious thing to do.

"Be careful, guys, we are not alone." "Airazor, do you see anyone?"

"I believe we are being prayed on by a praying mantis," said Tigatron, recognizing Manterror's scent. He moved a little further ahead of Whitegrazer and Optimus, staying low to the ground and periodically pausing in mid-step, looking at a noise he would hear in the surrounding forest.

"Airazor, do you see anyone?"

The falcon had been scanning the ground below as best as she could, but sadly, the trees were obstructing her view. It would seem as if the ground team would be on their own for now. "Nothing. Their has to be someone down their though, be careful!" She replied as she completed another lap in the air. Her animal instincts had her flying in a tight circle around her quarry like a vulture hunting a small rodent.

"I believe we are being prayed on by a praying mantis,"

Tigatron pitched in just in time as their enemy jumped out of the bushes. Manterror was in Beast Mode and strangely enough, he hadn't come out guns blazing. It seemed as if he had something else in mind. Zooming in with her robotic eyes, Airazor attempted to get a better look at the predicon below. He seemed to be just standing and looking at the CR Chamber in awe. Thankfully, Tigatron had left his comm on so that she could hear what was going on.

"Maximal's! I will be fair with you. This here appears to be a wandering CR Chamber and your "leader" is on the brink of death!" The mantis screamed. Airazor quickly turned down the volume of her comm in order to prevent loss of hearing. The predicon's booming voice was quite the change from the soft-spoken Tigatron whom she had become rather close to. "I will allow you to use this chamber before I do, as a gesture of good will." While the Mantis sounded as if he was simply being friendly, it was clear that this CR chamber was a fake. Someone needed to tell this predicon that inanimate objects don't simply 'wander'.

Silence followed as none of the Maximal's made any move to do as he wished. The Mantis wasn't exactly taking the reaction lightly either, he quickly grew impatient and yelled to get a faster response. "DO AS I SAY BEFORE I BEHEAD YOU ALL!"

Dinobot finally began to feel that his load was truly lifting, and a quick look down proved that part of Orcariner was indeed coming off the ground.

Cheetor wasn't feeling nearly so confident. This had to be the heaviest work he'd ever put his servos to. And he was finding that the more they all lifted, the more weight they all had to pull (since less and less of Orcariner was being supported by the ground).

"You sure about this Dinobot?" he blurted out.

"Keep moving, furball! When this is all over, you will be glad to know you were actually willing to pull, unlike some Maximals."

Rattrap had to make sure tentacles didn't snap... Indeed.

"Maximal's! I will be fair with you. This here appears to be a wandering CR Chamber and your "leader" is on the brink of death!" The mantis screamed. Airazor quickly turned down the volume of her comm in order to prevent loss of hearing. The predicon's booming voice was quite the change from the soft-spoken Tigatron whom she had become rather close to. "I will allow you to use this chamber before I do, as a gesture of good will." While the Mantis sounded as if he was simply being friendly, it was clear that this CR chamber was a fake. Someone needed to tell this predicon that inanimate objects don't simply 'wander'.

Silence followed as none of the Maximal's made any move to do as he wished. The Mantis wasn't exactly taking the reaction lightly either, he quickly grew impatient and yelled to get a faster response. "DO AS I SAY BEFORE I BEHEAD YOU ALL!"

Whitegrazer just listened to Manterror as he sounded like some crazed salesman trying to sell them something that they would regret getting. She didn't even flinch when Manterror yelled at them, threatening to behead them if they didn't.

So desperate to get them to put Optimus in there. It was clear this was nothing but a trap, a setup, but what was the harm of playing along with the praying mantis?

"If what you say is true, I bet you wouldn't mind if I tried it out first." Whitegrazer smirked, "To make sure it's geninue." In a very innocent, gentle tone, she continued, "If you don't mind. After all, we are near an alien site. It could be a trap for all of us."

If he allowed her to, she would get close to the mantis and knock him out quickly and quietly. She rather they didn't draw out more attention to themselves as Manterror did with all his crazed screaming. Also, if he attacked, Optimus would be put in more risk. She couldn't allow that.

She hoped Tigratron and Airazor knew what she was trying to do. Hopefully, they did. Surely, they didn't think she was that naive. Though, it would humorous to hear them shouting at her that it's a trap or something. It would make it more convincing anyway. It was something to laugh about.

((OOC: ))

"Nothing. Their has to be someone down their though, be careful!"

Just after Airazor had spoken, Tigatron heard a heavier noise and immediately stopped near the fake CR.

"Maximal's! I will be fair with you. This here appears to be a wandering CR Chamber and your "leader" is on the brink of death!"

The white tiger crouched and growled as Manterror made his appearance in his beast mode. Beast mode? Even Tigatron was surprised by that manuever with this Predacon. Strange insect. Was he alone, though? The large cat didn't detect any other scents but that didn't mean there weren't others lurking either in the treeline or in the sky. Thankfully, they had Airazor's sharp eyes up there. At any rate, Optimus wasn't even in stasis lock. Not yet, anyway. He was only unconscious, so their leader's situation wasn't as dire as Manterror thought it was. He didn't need to know that, though, so Tigatron easily held his tongue.

"I will allow you to use this chamber before I do, as a gesture of good will."

The white cat with his black stripes slowly stood up straight on all fours and stared at Manterror with some disbelief, slightly tilting his head and flicking his tail. Wandering? he thought back to the mantis's previous gesture.

"DO AS I SAY BEFORE I BEHEAD YOU ALL!"

Tigatron was about to maximize, in hopes to scare off the Predacon, when Whitegrazer jumped in. So he remained in beast mode for now.

"If what you say is true, I bet you wouldn't mind if I tried it out first." "To make sure it's geninue." "If you don't mind. After all, we are near an alien site. It could be a trap for all of us."

Catching her smirk, he wondered light-heartedly, What is she up to? and watched curiously. He hoped she knew what she was doing and wasn't putting their leader's life in any more danger than it already was. From what he recalled, this Predacon was highly unstable and unpredictable.

-----

(( OOC: at Blazemane. I love Dinobot's little digs that you throw in. ))

"You sure about this Dinobot?"

"Keep moving, furball! When this is all over, you will be glad to know you were actually willing to pull, unlike some Maximals."

Listening to their conversation above, Rattrap rolled his optics and suddenly said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Pull at the same time, guys!" as Orcariner's body began hanging very crookedly from the tentacles. "Feral and Winter, stop pulling. Spots an' Chopper Face, pull up more on yer side," the rat instructed from below. "Geez. Ya know, if ya stop worryin' about me so much, you might actually get somethin' done today, Dinobutt. You don't like how I work, take it up with the monkey. All right, you guys keep pulling up now," he said to the Fuzor and tigress. "Easy. All together. Almost there."

Listening to Dinobot and Cheetor Wintersong shook her head in disbelief, they already had had to make Dinobot and Rattrap stop now these two? Was there ever a time they didn't argue? Though Wintersong stopped pulling briefly, digging her heels into the ground just in case their side began to fail though luckily when the other side was being evened out again she began to pull and once more was thankful for her alternate form giving some extra strength then she once had had before and that they could finally work in getting Orcanier out. 'Just a little more.' She thought as she pulled harder to get the orca onto the surface.

((OOC: I edited my post alittle. I felt it was something Whitegrazer will say from what Manterror has said.))

"If what you say is true, I bet you wouldn't mind if I tried it out first." "To make sure it's geninue." "If you don't mind. After all, we are near an alien site. It could be a trap for all of us."

The Mantis answered quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly. "It can't be! I buil-" He paused, realizing halfway through the sentence that he was about to give himself away. Hopefully none of the maximals would catch on. "I mean, FOUND it!" He said, looking from side to side in an attempt to find a good escape route. This strategy was going downhill very quickly and it would be just a matter of time before the maximal's go berserk and start to attack.

As far as letting the other Maximal into the chamber, Manterror was more than willing to allow her to do so... as long as he hadn't blown his cover already. While she wasn't the Maximal leader, capturing her would bring Optimus to him. If their was one thing that Maximal's loved to do, it was attempt to rescue those whom were doomed! "But of course, feel free to test the chamber first! I assure you that it's not rigged to a trap or anything like that!"