The Intergalactic Highway

("Well.. it involved jumper cables and your mother's corpse, and another woman was involved with nano machines..and Rhinox's machines..You know what, screw it the Cyber Stork brought you." )

((OOC: Lol, I'd go with the Cyber Stork, it's less confusion to a kid.))

"They took the bait, we should be able to reel them in shortly."

Sonar raised an eye plate at the fishing pun, he shook his head before grabbing a few things and placing them in his subspace.

If you're going ot drink, take it easy and slow. Lets not have a repeat of what happen during my stay at the academy. He told himself.

Sonar shuddered at the thought of what happened, that had been his own personal week of the pit.

Blazemane wrote: "Correct," Dinobot replied with a slight pause, "on both accounts. I think you would do well simply to spend more time working with what you already have."

Dinobot stopped ponderously before continuing. "But the best advice I can give you now is not how to fight, but where to properly aim your skills. We are on opposing sides, Venatrix. You must certainly realize that this will eventually lead to my termination or yours. I have no intention of honing a blade pointed in my direction."


"Any learning you receive from now on must not be from me," he concluded.

As Dinobot and Tigatron left, Venatrix contemplated what Dinobot said.
Then she grined difiantly into the direction the 2 Maximals headed in.
The choice on how i'd hone my skills is entirely up to me. And somehow i know you knew that even while you said that. She thought.

But what did he mean by "spending more time working with that you already have"?
The black panther turned and walked towards Steelclaw while thinking only about that.
What did she already have which would make her a better warrior.
Was it that he ment to use the skills of her past?
If that was the case, she needed to make a lot of changes to her current skillset, and those she used in the past.
It was doable. The question however, how smoothly would both styles work when used at the same time.
They where both very different after all.
Now she was a warrior. Close combat specialist using melee weapons, preferably her blades, or even unarmed combat.
Her current skillset works together perfectly with being a warrior bound by a code of honor.
In the past, she was an assassin who compaired bodycounts with other Predacons.
And she took down her marks at a distance with a sniperrifle.
Venatrix was well aware she used to be among the best snipers within Predacon ranks.

The biggest problem with being a skilled sniper, is that there is no honor to be gained by terminating an opponent from such a distanse, that he or she never knew who burned a large hole into the chest, where a spark used to exist.
So how should she get this working without losing her honor?
This was something she needed to figure out her self, she knew.
Now she needed to think about building a weapon she could relate to, and use both her past and present skills with.

Venatrix was now only a few feet from Steelclaw and looked up to him.
"What are you doing here? You didn't spoil my little bit of fun by taking out the Maximals from a safe distense, like any Predacon would've done with your speciffic skills. And i'm wondering why that is. You must have a good reason. So tell me."

-------------------

The wound on her chest was already healing quite well.
Instead of a gaping hole with a few wires sparking franticly, it was now nothing more the a large scortch mark.
She transformed to her robot mode and walked over to Rattrap and handed him a set of bug wings from Waspinator.
"A few new adition for your collection perhaps?" she said with a smile.

Steelclaw walked up to Venatrix as she walked to him.

Venatrix wrote:What are you doing here? You didn't spoil my little bit of fun by taking out the Maximals from a safe distense, like any Predacon would've done with your speciffic skills. And i'm wondering why that is. You must have a good reason. So tell me.

Steelclaw tilted his head to the side quizzically.

"Like any Predacon?" he asked somewhat harshly. "What precisely do you think of your own faction?" Making his gaze level once more, he continued more calmly. "If I thought all Predacons were prone to interrupting a fair fight, I wouldn't be standing in the Predacons' defense."

"Besides, you're hardly the picture of 'Predacon treachery' yourself, coming out here, demanding an honorable duel. Obviously there is some character to be found in both factions in this war."

Steelclaw paused for a while before starting again.

"And I think that's becoming a problem for your Maximal friend- maybe for you too. Y'know, he came this close to admitting it," Steelclaw said, looking at the ground, satisfied the Maximals were out of ear shot. Then he looked directly at Venatrix. "You and Dinobot are on opposite sides, but I don't think he's actually scared of you killing him. He doesn't want to train you because he doesn't want to make your death any more difficult."

Steelclaw thought for a moment about what he'd said himself, and then quickly clarified.

"Don't get me wrong. Dinobot only has, and only ever will have, a warrior's respect for you- for anyone for that matter. But even that's dangerous across two sides set against each other. Face it, Venatrix. It's just like he said. Either the Maximals or the Predacons are going to lose. Don't make that any harder on yourself."

Turning around, Steelclaw took a few steps before stopping.

"Of course," he said with a small laugh, "if you want to make things harder for the Maximals, that might be a good move. Why do you think I waved?"

He took a few more steps before stopping yet again and turning to look at Venatrix.

"Oh, I just remembered why I came looking for you. Feel like bestowing your bounteous martial arts wisdom on another Predacon?" he asked.

* * *

Optimus Primal wrote:So, you endangered your well being by voluntarily and briefly going off-line and sacrificing your locking chip in order to help Airazor? That was very noble and selfless of you, Cheetor. You and Rhinox saved her life.

"It was nothing, Big 'Bot," said Cheetor. "Takes a little more than a Pred and some radiation to knock this cat down."

Optimus Primal wrote:No, that's all right.

Cheetor was happy to hear that.

Optimus Primal wrote:It sounds like it may have been too damaged to be of any use for anyone. What of Whitegrazer and Valkyrie?

"I saw Valkyrie free-falling with Waspinator and then coming back up without him. I didn't see what happened to him though. An Whitegrazer was giving Scorponok hitting lessons until Airazor showed up and he decided the fight was over. I think it's one day the Preds'll never forget."

* * *

Dinobot soon caught up with Tigatron.

"Nemesis," he muttered darkly as heard the account of what happened. So, the Decepticon continued to make herself a formidable problem for Maximal forces. Dinobot quietly resolved then and there to bring her to justice.

Wintersong wrote:Though we have a new Maximal called Airazor. Just arrive with Rhinox's team.

"Then it appears this day has not been a total loss," he remarked, still rather angered by the loss of the would-be Maximal Inferno, and the scene he was now observing. "What of the rodent's forces?" he asked.

Whitegrazer stopped walking towards the others and walked towards her room. As she walked, she moved her shoulder around, the shoulder that got hit by Scorponok's missile. Thank Primus, being in beast mode helped her internal repairs to heal the shoulder quickly. There still was some burnt metal but she had alittle polish in her room.

She felt like mediating alittle bit too as she was there. Sitting on the floor and crossing her legs, she closed her optics and started her meditation.

(ooc: lol.. this is getting creepy in a way.. I like to think of it as Nightmist, Nemesis and Icebreaker all donating something to the new Maximal, willingly or not. )

Nemesis caught the panther's attack on Manterror through the corner of her optic as she was walking away, but she did not stop or even slow down. She simply didn't care for little squabbles like that, knowing fully well that the Predacon base was filled with drama such as what she just witnessed. It did not matter. Soon enough she would have figured out how to return to her former Decepticon body or one of a similar nature, and she would then be free to roam the galaxy like she had done for most of her life.

After making a quick stop by her quarters to pick up her dual swords, she decided to scope out the rest of the base to see what the other Predacons were up to. So far she had not mentioned her little trip to the Maximal base, not finding a reason to share such information with anyone especially since all it had accomplished was the destruction of a storage facility. And that she blamed on the Maximal resistance she had encountered while there. Such foolish creatures they were..

Back at the Maximal base the new Maximal protoform, as of yet not conscious and without a name or alternative mode, remained in her deep slumber. If she had caught any of what had occurred in the lab, she did not show signs of it in any way. So for the time being she was blissfully unaware of the tragedies, coincidences, and acts of foolishness and bravery that had transpired to cause her creation.

(ooc: Unless this particular episode is going to last a while longer, I figured I would hold off on having her wake up until after the CC/labyrinth episode so having her join as we enter season 2. )

"It was nothing, Big 'Bot," "Takes a little more than a Pred and some radiation to knock this cat down."

Smiling again, Optimus said, "So I've noticed." He was glad to see some modesty from Cheetor. The cheetah certainly had courage.

"I saw Valkyrie free-falling with Waspinator and then coming back up without him. I didn't see what happened to him though. An Whitegrazer was giving Scorponok hitting lessons until Airazor showed up and he decided the fight was over. I think it's one day the Preds'll never forget."

Making some more notes, revising the report Orcariner had given him, Primal nodded. "Well," he sighed briefly, "it will be one for both Maximals and Predacons to remember." He didn't bother to elaborate on that, thinking about the losses his own team suffered and the new recruits the Predacons gained. But he was thankful to have Airazor safe and sound. Standing up, Optimus commandingly addressed the younger Maximal, "Cheetor, you performed above and beyond your call of duty today, and I am incredibly grateful. This will be duely noted on your rec..." An unbearable pain suddenly jolted the leader, causing him to lose his breath and interrupt what his little speech. Propping himself up on his desk with one hand, Optimus immediately held his other hand over the area on his side where he had been stabbed by his alien clone with his sword a few weeks ago. Groaning out of anguish, his only functioning optic seemed distant while his mind raced; he didn't know why it hurt, he hadn't been damaged there in battle today so there was no external evidence of a wound, but it was agonizing as if his mechanical internals were being twisted and torn. Losing his balance, the commander collapsed on to the floor cringing, trying to cope with the pain, holding his side with both hands now as if it would help stop it somehow. He couldn't speak. He could barely breathe.

(( OOC: This is just the Vok virus "activating" or "attacking" for later use of Clear Convoy's return (almost like a warning of his return), but it'll lay dorment again shortly, so OP will just think he needs time in the CR since he does anyway for his head injuries, and to get that nasty fuel smell out of his fur. So, yes, I've decided to make the link between OP and CC a viral one. Cheetor can panic but I don't expect anyone to arrive to help in time because this will be quick. ))

-----

"Of course. I'm quite curious of what the device is."

"That makes two of us," Rattrap said to Frilla. He started walking away from the group assuming Optimus was somewhere inside the Axalon by this point, possibly being debriefed by Orcariner for Rhinox's team. He didn't get far when Valkyrie approached him.

"A few new adition for your collection perhaps?"

"Hey, thanks, V!" the rat grinned, taking the wings and juggling them with Glowstick's device in one of his hands until he got things situated in his arms. "Looks like you took a heavy hit there," he said, noticing the scortch mark on her chest before she had transformed.

-----

"Everyone is alright. Luckily we got cover before the facility blew and the others arrived after so no one was hurt and Nemisis left a bit after words."

That was a relief. Tigatron smiled to her in response.

"Though we have a new Maximal called Airazor. Just arrive with Rhinox's team."

"So that is her name," the white tiger pondered outloud. Airazor. He glanced at Feralnight who had just started walking over to them.

"Nemesis,"

Tigatron looked at Dinobot's darker tone when the Decepticon's name escaped his mouth.

"Then it appears this day has not been a total loss," "What of the rodent's forces?"

Yes, had Rattrap's team returned with any news? Any other new comrades? He patiently waited for answers.

Wintersong looked back at the two, hearing Dinobot's darker tone but shook her head at his question, "Returned empty handed. Though they had a run in with the Predacons, seems the ship was indeed a Pred and a friend of Starshadow's." The tigeress however didn't look or sound too thrilled at the news, even if it had been a while since she had a confrontation with the crazy panther she still disliked Starshadow. Something was just plain unusual about her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the Darkside Snow Trix still remained, not bothering with the business or drama that occurred within the Predacon ship. Right now she was more focused on her thoughts and training, at the moment going over the events of the day and what the future might hold, if there was a future for them but it was hard to tell. And quite honestly she didn't feel like being too social so took her time to practice with her Energon lasso which she thought might be far more effective as a whip as is she had used earlier against Dinobot, it would seem a better use.

Bringing her arm slightly outwards she brought it quickly forward bringing the lasso out with the same ferocity and hitting the rock she was practicing on chipping it slightly. It was about the fifteenth time she had hit the rock and stopped for a moment to look at any damage, seeing scorch marks and parts of it gone. Shaking her head the fox drew the weapon back and whipped it once more to continue the process.

NaitoKage wrote: Probably a good idea. Hm.. Well, I guess Optimus wont be expecting this. I guess we should report..

"Probably should," replied Orcariner, "But I think he's with Cheetor right now."

This was certainly a peculiar situation.

"You guys think we should tell him at his office or have him inspect the sparkling and explain things to him then?"

Rhinox got up from his chair That body isn't going anywhere for the time being, so I'll talk with Optimus. You two try to take it easy, especially you Icebreaker.

Icebreaker looked towards Rhinox Heh heh.. Yeah, I know.

Rhinox then proceeded to exit the lab heading to Optimus's office, as he walked to the Office, he heard the noise coming from Optimus's room, then walked up to the door sliding it open as he saw Optimus on the floor holding his side, he looked around the room for a moment, then rushed to Optimus Optimus! Cheetor, what happened?! he then said as he started to examine Optimus Primal over.

_____________________

Glowstick floated into the hanger We can have the party in the hanger...Hm.. Hang on! he then unlocked the airlock and entered the Leviathan, moments later they could notice one of the arms of the Leviathan moved, held up high in the air. Glowstick exited the transport with a few barrels of oil, cups, a disco ball, and a few other assorted items that he started to set up in the hanger, most notably attaching the disco ball to the arm of the Leviathan to suspend it above the group. On one of the flight stabilizers of the Leviathan he started setting up cups and using a pump to pour the oil in, though strangely the oil glowed blue, probably not that abnormal to the Predacon crew as everything Glowstick built or owned seemed to glow.

He then started to play some music at a moderate volume from his shoulder speakers while the photophores on his body shined in random sequence, his limbs holding multiple cups as he floated over to Starshadow and Cecaelia passing out a cup to each. He took one of the spare cups he was carrying as his chest beak opened, tilting his chest up a bit as he poured some into it. His beak then closed as he returned to his normal position. Hm.. I guess in a bit I could set up some Karaoke too.. though I am a floating Karaoke machine..

Starshadow took a sip of her drink and sat down on a chair. "I've been wanting to ask you this Glowstick. If I'm just a liability to the crew, why did you bother bring my aft back to the Darksyde? The team is better off without me."

((OOC: I'm debating if I should let Sonar get drunk. What do you guys think?))

Sonar squinted at the semi bright of the disco ball, he growled slightly at what was playing, proving that once again the squid had awful taste in music.

...If I'm just a liability to the crew, why did you bother bring my aft back to the Darksyde? The team is better off without me

"You should be grateful he brought you back at all." Sonar growled, sitting down in the nearest chair.

Why can't we just knock them out and be done with it? He thought his arm crossed.

((It's a good idea. Get him drunk a lil))

Starshadow's ears went back when Sonar came. "I didn't ask him to. I rather die than to participate in a war which is NOT MINE!" she slamed a fist on the wall.

"Do you even undestand how it feels to being a caged bird or a disposable tool?!"

Glowstick sighed As hard as it may be for you to believe, I'd rather not see you or any of our crew dead. I'm still a medic after all even if you are stuck under my command. You may seem like a liability, but even you have served to have moments of usefulness even having put your life on the line to save Sonar here from drowning, as well as the rest of the crew. If I thought you were a total liability, I would of never bothered building that amphibious armor for you to begin with since that meant I wouldn't of trusted you to perform a operation with me in such a dangerous environment. As a disposable tool or caged bird.. for me, that's better then what I was. At least here I have a use.. Glowstick tilted his chest pouring a bit more fluid into his beak.

(Depends, will Sonar be attempting to stab people with things while drunk, or just wake up regretting what he did in the morning with half the crew having awkward looks and single word responses for the next episode?)

((OOC: No, he'll just act really strange and funny.))

"I didn't ask him to. I rather die than to participate in a war which is NOT MINE!"

Sonar wasn't impressed by her show of force.

"Do you even undestand how it feels to being a caged bird or a disposable tool?!"

"I guess I don't. I'll have to ask my test subjects that the next time I'm in my lair." He said with a smirk.

As hard as it may be for you to believe, I'd rather not see you or any of our crew dead. I'm still a medic after all even if you are stuck under my command. You may seem like a liability, but even you have served to have moments of usefulness even having put your life on the line to save Sonar here from drowning, as well as the rest of the crew.

She should have just let me drown. He thought rolling his optics.

If I thought you were a total liability, I would of never bothered building that amphibious armor for you to begin with since that meant I wouldn't of trusted you to perform a operation with me in such a dangerous environment. As a disposable tool or caged bird.. for me, that's better then what I was. At least here I have a use..

"See? Even you have your uses." Sonar said haughty, his smirk deepening.

Starshadow looked at the mechs then to Cecaelia. "Do you blame me for the deaths of our other comrades?" the cat asked her.

Cecaelia nodded. "Well..there's nothing we can do now.."

Starshadow put a hand on her face and sighed. "Let's drown our sadness with oil.." and with that, she drank a mouthful.