The Intergalactic Highway

Rhinox made an interesting point towards her. At first, she was going to wait for them to get inside the Axalon. She didn't like the idea of them speaking out and openly where there might be unknown dangers as well as Zodiac's presence, but the idea of someone eavesdropping or someone using Sentinel's camera or other surveillance technology to overhear their private conversation wasn't very appealing either. Also, she realized, when they returned home, the High Council would no doubt check all kinds of camera feeds or recordings from Axalon's computers. Though, the Axalon wouldn't be able to return due to it being unable to fly anymore, that didn't mean they still carry such vital information. And even if they didn't, that wouldn't stop the High Council from sending their own temporal agents to gather the information.

"You made a very good point, Rhinox." Whitegrazer admitted. She contemplated for a moment, thinking about how best to explain or approach this. "I don' t like keeping secrets. Especially from you two or Optimus. Anyone, exactly. Everyone has them, but mine are very dangerous. You two must understand that my silence isn't by choice. No, that's not true. It is by choice. It's just that keeping it a secret is better than letting someone die because they know it. As a soldier, as a former member of the Maximal military, who has fought in a war, I have seen things and done things that I can't talk about. They are classified, so classified that if I talked, I will be denounce as a war criminal or worse those I tell would be subject to harsh consequences. There is no knowledge that is not power, but there aren't that many people who could handle such power. It destroys them or others around them." She looked at Zodiac. Yes, the scientists that tried to create and use nanomachines, basing their so-called experiment on whatever info passed down from her. Trying to recreate someone with her power and foresight. But they failed.

Then she turned back to Rhinox and Aurora, knowing that they were probably waiting for her to get to the point.

"I am sorry, Rhinox, Aurora, for not being truthful. The truth is... This morning I had a vision and was told these specific coordinates. I was told to go alone. But I didn't listen. I thought that if this was an alien site, and if the site was so important that I needed to go, and since the aliens were aware of our survival, maybe there was something there that could help us. When I realized what an ingenious invention you made, Aurora, I thought that perhaps if I told you two to the coordinates that maybe we can have a clue or something that could help us in figuring out what the aliens would do. I didn't realize you guys were in such a hurry. I didn't mean to lead you two into danger. " Rhinox and Aurora did leave without her, after she told them she wanted to go with them. "I was unaware that Zodiac was still alive. If I had known... I would have went by myself. But I omitted the fact that I was taking you two to the alien site. I should have told you. I actually... didn't realize I didn't..."

That was true. It was a mistake, but it wasn't until Aurora looked at her disappointingly that she realized she might have did an old habit she thought she threw away centuries ago. Maybe the thought of Rhinox and Aurora figuring out who and what she was threw her in a bigger loops than she realize. It still was an excuse, though. And she accepted that.

"You probably realize that now that those weren't glitches and you would be correct." Whitegrazer knew what she admitted to and they all probably had a lot of questions that wanted answers. "I know what you two are thinking, and no, the Vok exiled me centuries ago. I have no knowledge of what they are doing here or what they plan on doing. Nor can I decipher their intent. They are strangers to me as they are to you. But now you know why I don't want Optimus to know about this." She looked at Zodiac, "Zodiac's abilities were the product of scientists attempting to recreate my power. They knew nothing of what they were messing with nor did I realize this was happening. They took a sample of my spark without my consent or knowledge and used it." She began to wonder if Zodiac and Nemesis were the only attempts. Or were there more scientists out there trying. It gave her a chill just thinking about it, and she had no one to blame but herself. "Optimus... He doesn't need that." No, she didn't want him to feel guilty. He had been through enough emotional turmoil. she wasn't going to put him through that again.

"It was a mistake for you two to find out, and my fault. I had to make a choice, and I thought even if you found out about me, that maybe it would be worth it just to gain any information on the Vok. Maybe the High Council would forgive you two, but I'm going to make sure all the same. There is a way to keep you two safe from any consequence. Erase what you scanned from me and Zodiac. Keep the information you scanned from the site. And forget what you learned and heard today. You two will be fine, though, and if they ask or interrogate you, just tell them that I forced you to lie, I threatened you. I used my abilities to manipulate you. They would believe that. You two will be safe. I promise." That was actually true. The High Council might be angry, but they might just give Aurora and Rhinox a slap on the wrist and if they did as she told them to, the High Council may think she was at fault. Rhinox and Aurora will be okay. No, that she really thought about it. The High council would protect them, especially since rhinox and Aurora had skills that could be useful for them. It was she who was going to be in trouble. And she was okay with that.

"Despite these revelations, we can't allow this to wreak havoc within our ranks. The last thing we need right now is to fall apart and not trust each other while we're still facing the Predacons and the aliens are on their way back. We need to stick together,"

Whitegrazer nodded, "I agree, Rhinox. Wholeheartedly. Divided we will fall."

"Something tells me.. I'm not the.. only one Optimus will need.. to prepare for," he called back to them. "Or perhaps.. you would prefer it.. if I told Primal the .. truth about you.. myself? .. You know.. how persuasive.. I can be."

She glanced at the former shapeshifter. She heard his comments about talking about this to Optimus, ""This goes for you as well, Zodiac.You say anything to Optimus and the others, and your fate would be sealed by those who hate us."

She got closer to Zodiac, "Or if that doesn't stop you, maybe this would." She stared at him for a bit before speaking again. "You came to that site for a reason. Was it to find a way of escape? Or was it to try and find a way to regain your powers? If the latter, then I have a solution for you. Let me help you regain your abilities." Rhinox and Aurora would not approve, but they needed to hear her out. "I can. After all, I was what those scientists tried to emulate. But what they learned nothing, only superficial. Only cruelty and pain. Torture. They knew nothing, and you didn't deserve that. I can guide you to a better way... a better path. What do you have to lose? If the Predacons found out, especially Nemesis, they will try and kill you. We are your only hope for survival. We will keep you safe and I can help you regain what you lose. Maybe even show you what you never had been shown in your lifetime. Something you lost a long time ago."

She was giving a chance for Zodiac to start over. Though, she had one thing to address.

"But... if you try to harm or kill any one of us, the deal is off." That was her only condition. "I'll let you think about it."


"I'm disappointed in you, Whitegrazer. You have become soft. It is disgusting. I shouldn't have allow you to take it this far. I need a new strategy. But it might not be enough to save you.

Save me from who?

From them. From yourself. I will make it right though. Don't get too comfortable. Also, one more thing... a reminder to shake you off this...whatever it is you think you are doing.

There was a sudden piercing scream inside her own mind. It made her clench her optics for a moment. The image of a skull-like visage all too familiar with her stared back at her before it dissipated.

TyCross...

She dismissed her mentor's warning. Don't worry, I will return. Alone. She needed to focus on what was happening now.

"No. I don't think preparation is necessary. Optimus has enough on his mind at the moment. Hearing about Zodiac's survival now would just distract him from what he needs to be doing. He doesn't need to be dwelling on this when there's nothing he can do about it until we arrive. He'll be fine when we bring Zodiac in. And if not, then you can help ease him,"

Rhinox was right. Optimus, from what she could feel from her link, was at the moment busy, and she didn't wish to distract him. She just didn't want Optimus to be relapse, but like Rhinox said, she could help him in dealing with this revelation.

Ironclaw was walking out on all fours' until he came to a sudden halt. After everything that had happened and what had been said, he could not let this go. Changing from badger to robot mode, he ran through all the events that had let up to this point. Optimus was busy trying to shift the blame from one to other which he found odd for the ape and shameful. Shameful, being it was the great Optimus Primal who decided to not take full responsibility. This bot still played leader and to think it was shear luck that his ship was closest to intercept Megatron at the time. 'And he still thinks he out ranks me?!?' Ironclaw was about to say something but got distracted. He was perplexed at how Optimus had managed to hang on this long, with this crew and his style of leadership. Luck maybe? But we have been here before! Hundreds of times. The same situations and the same key players. The badgers optics focussed on the gorilla. "This war never really ended Optimus. And there has ALWAYS been two constants. You... and Megatron." Ironclaw sighed heavily when he was finished and resting his hands on his knees. Recent events weighed heavily on him, so much so that he was conflicted and his thoughts betrayed him. "Killing is all I've ever known. I did it... I did it for what I thought was the greater good." His optics had left Optimus and now were locked to the floor. Being shot through a worm hole, the security over ride when he first landed, the virus, Nexus, thinking that he was the only one left after the volcano.

"There are those of us, myself included, that want this war to end. I've been told that you don't have what it takes Optimus." Ironclaw looked back up to the Maximal leader. "I don't think you can make those tough decisions. Can you?" he wasn't arguing anymore. His faith was shaken and he just wanted to know. It all seemed bleak to him, endless war no matter who held their banner. "Peace at our time" he scoffed. "Thats what I was sold."

The transmetal badger fell to his knees, he had completely succumb to lack of moral and confusion. At that point Optimus' question reminded him. The tigress. " I don't know why I cam back"

"Whitegrazer, if you wish to explain to us alone, I think it would be best done now before we reach the base where anyone might be able to listen without us knowing and where cameras are everywhere."

Aurora glanced between the two taller Maximals. Thus far Whitegrazer was doing a good job keeping up the suspense, which didn't exactly improve her case any. If only she could have been honest with them from the start none of this mess would have happened.

"Despite these revelations, we can't allow this to wreak havoc within our ranks. The last thing we need right now is to fall apart and not trust each other while we're still facing the Predacons and the aliens are on their way back. We need to stick together,"

A low chuckle could be herd from where Zodiac was still laying on his side, one scorched wing draped over him like a blanket, as he listened to the Maximals bickering on about what to do with the empath. He was finding the situation quite humorous indeed and from time to time he would open his mouth as if about to say something. But he quickly closed it again whenever one of them spoke up, getting far more enjoyment out of their little squabble than he probably should. Aurora tried to ignore the renegade as best she could but she wasn't entirely successful at it.

"Even he knows more than we do?" Rhinox inquired, feeling somewhat insulted. But he moved on. "No. I don't think preparation is necessary. Optimus has enough on his mind at the moment. Hearing about Zodiac's survival now would just distract him from what he needs to be doing. He doesn't need to be dwelling on this when there's nothing he can do about it until we arrive. He'll be fine when we bring Zodiac in. And if not, then you can help ease him," he directed his last sentence toward Whitegrazer.

"How quaint," the former shapeshifter said mockingly, "I didn't know.. he cared that much."

Aurora sent the male a glare, fighting the urge to correct him on his attitude. Of course Optimus cared! He cared so deeply for all of them that at times it threatened to collapse his entire world. Their leader even cared for those who clearly didn't deserve his attention, those that tried to hurt him.. destroy him.. Yes, of course he was angry for a while but when given the option Optimus would always try to preserve life. Often at the expense of risking his own. Even for this guy.

"Shut up," she warned him.

The renegade looked at her and smiled, a somewhat creepy looking smile at that. He didn't say anything, instead he merely lifted one of his hands and pointed at her spark with his finger as if it was a weapon. He went through the motion of shooting a single 'shot' before lowering his hand again, the smile still on his face.

For a moment Aurora felt as if she was back in front of the base, on her back with a bullet lodged in her spark, with Whitegrazer frantically begging her to stay awake.. The fuzor immediately fell silent, looking away to avoid looking at the one who had almost killed her a few weeks before. And she silently cursed herself for letting him get to her like that, when it clearly was what he wanted.

Fortunately the other female was about to provide a great distraction by finally opening up on what had happened.

"I don' t like keeping secrets. Especially from you two or Optimus. Anyone, exactly. Everyone has them, but mine are very dangerous. You two must understand that my silence isn't by choice. No, that's not true. It is by choice. It's just that keeping it a secret is better than letting someone die because they know it. As a soldier, as a former member of the Maximal military, who has fought in a war, I have seen things and done things that I can't talk about. They are classified, so classified that if I talked, I will be denounce as a war criminal or worse those I tell would be subject to harsh consequences. There is no knowledge that is not power, but there aren't that many people who could handle such power. It destroys them or others around them."

Her explanation was vague at first, and very confusing. Aurora shook her head, partially to clear it from the awful images Zodiac had put there with but a few gestures, and partially because she was so tired of the games. She just wanted the truth, one way or another.

"I am sorry, Rhinox, Aurora, for not being truthful. The truth is... This morning I had a vision and was told these specific coordinates. I was told to go alone. But I didn't listen. I thought that if this was an alien site, and if the site was so important that I needed to go, and since the aliens were aware of our survival, maybe there was something there that could help us. When I realized what an ingenious invention you made, Aurora, I thought that perhaps if I told you two to the coordinates that maybe we can have a clue or something that could help us in figuring out what the aliens would do. I didn't realize you guys were in such a hurry. I didn't mean to lead you two into danger. " Rhinox and Aurora did leave without her, after she told them she wanted to go with them. "I was unaware that Zodiac was still alive. If I had known... I would have went by myself. But I omitted the fact that I was taking you two to the alien site. I should have told you. I actually... didn't realize I didn't..."

Whitegrazer's explanation only lead to more questions.

"How did you know it was an alien site?," Aurora wanted to know. Whitegrazer's mindset was often very different from that of others and at times it was very difficult to understand how her mind worked. It was if she was operating on a whole different level at times.

"And if you suspected such, why not involve Optimus in the plans? Why only Rhinox and myself?"

She didn't understand. Couldn't. Optimus was their leader so in her opinion he should have bee involved.

"You probably realize that now that those weren't glitches and you would be correct."

Aurora sighed, mostly because nothing Whitegrazer had told them thus far was news. At first Aurora had dismissed the readings as glitches in the system but after seeing it happen twice, both cases involving individuals with some of the strangest powers she could even imagine, she had reluctantly started to process the idea that Whitegrazer was more unique than she had ever imagined. She wanted more information. And she was about to get it.

"I know what you two are thinking, and no, the Vok exiled me centuries ago. I have no knowledge of what they are doing here or what they plan on doing. Nor can I decipher their intent. They are strangers to me as they are to you. But now you know why I don't want Optimus to know about this."

The fuzor's jaw dropped, not having expected Whitegrazer's admission to be so direct. And certainly not what she had to say. Yes, she had suspected Whitegrazer was somehow involved with the Vok, but the fuzor had been more inclined to believe she was an emissary of sorts or even a Vok test subject. Not this!

"You are one of them?!," Aurora uttered in disbelief. How could that be?! Whitegrazer was Cybertronian in nature, or at least she looked and had the mechanics of one. How could she be a member of the Vok??

Meanwhile Zodiac pushed himself up straighter, suddenly extremely interested in what was going on. Yes, he had known the empath had some sort of relationship with the aliens. She had told him that much herself when she took credit for the creation of his nanomachines.

"Zodiac's abilities were the product of scientists attempting to recreate my power. They knew nothing of what they were messing with nor did I realize this was happening. They took a sample of my spark without my consent or knowledge and used it."

"All the power in the world.. and yet you couldn't stop them.. from taking it away from you.. and creating me in your image," the former shapeshifter said, tilting his head as he spoke. He was regaining a little of his strength but still not nearly enough to pose a threat right now.

"Optimus... He doesn't need that."

"Strange.. isn't it?," Zodiac continued, "I wouldn't be here if it.. wasn't for the combined.. efforts of Nexus Prime.. and you. In a way.. you two.. created me."

The look of shock on Aurora's face was blatantly obvious. She didn't know what to make of any of this and for a moment she actually wished she hadn't witnessed it at all. However Whitegrazer still wasn't done..

"It was a mistake for you two to find out, and my fault. I had to make a choice, and I thought even if you found out about me, that maybe it would be worth it just to gain any information on the Vok. Maybe the High Council would forgive you two, but I'm going to make sure all the same. There is a way to keep you two safe from any consequence. Erase what you scanned from me and Zodiac. Keep the information you scanned from the site. And forget what you learned and heard today. You two will be fine, though, and if they ask or interrogate you, just tell them that I forced you to lie, I threatened you. I used my abilities to manipulate you. They would believe that. You two will be safe. I promise."

In a strange way Whitegrazer's reasons were starting to make a little more sense. But the fuzor still couldn't understand why it all had to be kept secret from Optimus. She hated the idea of keeping something this big secret from the one individual who really needed to know. But she chose not to argue the fact with Whitegrazer, realizing such an attempt would be fruitless. Still she hadn't decided whether to honor Whitegrazer's wishes or to tell Optimus like she felt was the right thing to do. What could the council do anyway? They were far away on a world Aurora had not yet seen, in a different time even.

""This goes for you as well, Zodiac.You say anything to Optimus and the others, and your fate would be sealed by those who hate us."

"My fate is.. already sealed!," the male argued back, making a futile attempt at standing up. "The Maximal council is.. already after me.. They sent Ironclaw to kill.. me and my brethren. "

He left out the part about why the Elders were so angry with him. It wouldn't exactly help his case with the Maximals if they knew the truth about what he had done. And the aliens.. these Vok.. the ones responsible for the technology that still remained inside him even if it was inactive right now. She was one of them. Thus he had to tread very carefully around her.

"Or if that doesn't stop you, maybe this would." She stared at him for a bit before speaking again. "You came to that site for a reason. Was it to find a way of escape? Or was it to try and find a way to regain your powers? If the latter, then I have a solution for you. Let me help you regain your abilities."

For once the renegade was at a loss for words. He had not expected her to make such an offer. But even with her connection to the Vok, he doubted she possessed the capability to reverse the damage done to him. She didn't exactly strike him as a scientist type. Still.. as far as he knew, she had never actually lied to him. And even the attempts at misdirection she had made towards her own comrades could be explained.. even excused in a sense.

He hesitated for a moment before finally lowering his gaze to the floor as a gesture of submission to her demands. As strong as his desire to wreck havoc with the Maximals and especially Optimus was, his urge to regain the remainder of himself was all the more powerful.

If Aurora's jaw could possibly drop any further, she would literally have been picking it up from the ground by now. She didn't know what kind of game Whitegrazer was playing, but it seemed awfully reckless and dangerous. Did she honestly believe she could control the renegade if he regained his powers? Powers she now knew originally came from the mare?

"I can. After all, I was what those scientists tried to emulate. But what they learned nothing, only superficial. Only cruelty and pain. Torture. They knew nothing, and you didn't deserve that. I can guide you to a better way... a better path. What do you have to lose? If the Predacons found out, especially Nemesis, they will try and kill you. We are your only hope for survival. We will keep you safe and I can help you regain what you lose. Maybe even show you what you never had been shown in your lifetime. Something you lose a long time ago."

The renegade nodded in agreement, remaining on his best behavior. For now.

"But... if you try to harm or kill any one of us, the deal is off." That was her only condition. "I'll let you think about it."

"Very well," he responded, still averting his gaze as he contemplated this sudden and unexpected development. "I will comply with your.. demands. The Maximals are safe.. from me. " He sounded so genuine, Aurora thought, but she still doubted he could be trusted. Whitegrazer, on the other hand, was an even bigger puzzle than before. If she truly was of Vok heritage, could she honestly be trusted at all? The fuzor was extremely conflicted about it all and could only hope Rhinox was able to maintain a clear mind throughout all of this.

Phoenix wrote: "As you command," she said politely, starting to make her way to the door while Megatron addressed his other concerns. Meanwhile she was going to focus her attention on another, more immediate threat. BlackArachnia. That traitorous she-spider could cause all sorts of problems if she spilled her guts to the Maximals. And now that Nemesis held a commanding position, she actually had the power to change the future. Provided Megatron played along, of course, so she'd have to give him every reason to do so.

She waited but a moment in case Megatron had something more to say before leaving the room. From there she went to pick up the trinket Umbra had gifted to her, before finally making her way outside of the base.

"Of course" Megatron replied as Nemesis left his quarters along with Deathroll, the predacon leader alone at last to continue his work and ponder his thoughts in peace.

"These maximals grow more bothersome all the time, can they not realize I have bigger threats to worry about than them?" Megatron growled, knowing that the aliens would be gunning for them soon one way or the other, and that their return would either seal his fate or provide the opportunity he needed to finally end the Beast Wars and begin his conquest of Cybertron...Compared to that, Primal and his ilk were of little consequence, merely a distraction to keep occupied until the real danger arrived.

"Truly inconsiderate of them master" the drone replied dutifully as it worked to repair the damage to the table, nervously looking up every so often to keep its one and only optic on its easily angered creator.

"Indeed" Megatron grumbled as he withdrew the tiny shard of red energon he had synthesized, wondering if he'd ever find a way to mass produce it, or could create a new type of artificial energon that would render the powerful but unreliable red energon obsolete....Well, no point in only speculating about it when he could instead aim to achieve it!

And with that, Megatron returned to his works, studying the carefully hidden and protected alien disk for more knowledge he could utilize in his research, as well as in his ongoing battle against the maximals.


Elsewhere, Terrorsaur was on monitor duty, normally a rather dull job except for the fact that he'd been working himself ragged on Megatron's wretched jamming tower project, which of course was overseen by everyone's least favorite Allicon, Deathroll. The giant reptile had it out for Terrorsaur and was always watching, always making sure that he and Waspinator and everyone else was hard at work carrying out their "lord's" orders. Seriously, the gator needed a hobby outside of bothering him & kissing Megatron's skid plate. However, with the maximals nowhere near their territory this meant he could relax for a change and recharge his energon, it was no proper vacation but it was better than nothing after the rough treatment he'd had as of late.

"Awwww, never thought I'd be glad NOT to see intruders, slow days like this are what we need more of in this outfit" Terrorsaur mused, forgetting about his ambitions to lead and instead remembering the good old days back on Cybertron when he and Wasp would go out with the rest of Cryotek's gang for a night of drinking and partying after a hard week of murder and mayhem, what he wouldn't give to be back at his favorite hole in the wall right now, lightyears away from Megatron & his cronies.

"Slow days are for sloths, not soldiers, which are you I wonder?" menaced a familiar, hateful voice as terrorsaur turned around in his chair to face a scowling Deathroll, and sneered "A soldier of course, Sub-Commander, can't you tell with those beady little gator eyes of yours? Or is it too hard to see with your head shoved so far up Megatron's asaaaaaawwwwww!"

Deathroll grabbed Terrorsaur by the throat before he could finish his sentence and slammed him against the computer monitor as he said "If your skills were as sharp as your tongue, little flyer, maybe you'd be dangerous, or better yet, USEFUL. Alas, this is not the case, so stop slacking off and take your duties seriously or I'll ground you permanently, by stuffing your treacherous mouth with your severed wings!"

With that said, Deathroll released Terrorsaur, who only glowered at him in response as he returned to his duties, swearing to himself he'd get even somehow as the gator went from station to station to see how repairs were coming along, and to make sure no one else was dragging their feet in their work.

(( OOC: It could have worked, DarkSpark, although I almost think Megatron might have presumed the Maximals would just tear the towers apart or knock them down like they've done so in the past. I was hoping the Maximals could show him they can adapt and turn his own scheming against him. No, you're not dropping the ball with old grape face. We can't think of everything all the time. I know I certainly can't. Once in a blue moon I have some good ideas. XD ))

Optimus proceeded to walk toward Ironclaw but stopped when the other bot maximized and threw his gaze upon him.

"This war never really ended Optimus.

The badger's vagueness left him a little vexed. Which war? The Beast War or the Great War? In the case of the Great War, no, it never really ended. There was always going to be turmoil between the Autobots and the Decepticons, and it inevitably overflowed onto their descendants. There would always be good and bad and different perceptions of both sides. There would always be someone who wanted power and domination, and there would always be someone to stand in that individual's way in order to stop them.

And there has ALWAYS been two constants. You... and Megatron."

Ironclaw almost made it sound like it was his fault for being an Optimus, and his fault for pursuing Megatron after he stole the golden disk. But Optimus Primal and Megatron were not the same Optimus Prime and Megatron from the Great War. So could they really be compared as the same constants? If one was talking about good and evil, then yes. If one was talking about Megatron wanting the universe in the palm of his hand, and Optimus defending the universe from such a fate, then yes. That just simply seemed to be the way of things no matter the time and place. But Primal still wasn't sure what Ironclaw's point was. One or the other had to be nullified in order to stop the cycle? Nevertheless, he remained silent and let the badger continue.

"Killing is all I've ever known. I did it... I did it for what I thought was the greater good."

It was then when Optimus couldn't recall seeing Ironclaw as vulnerable as he appeared to be right then. His eye contact had lowered to the floor, seemingly in thought or perhaps lost on his moral compass. The Maximal leader watched him and gave a small nod, understanding what he said and how someone could think that killing others was the "best" solution to stop or prevent these kinds of wars. Not the best, of course, but certainly the easiest. Except these wars would always exist.

"There are those of us, myself included, that want this war to end.

As do I, Primal agreed in his mind, not wanting to interrupt Ironclaw since he was finally talking to him in a calm manner, but they finally had a mutual feeling.

I've been told that you don't have what it takes Optimus."

Insulted by that remark, Optimus opened his mouth with the intention to demand to tell him who said that, but he held his tongue and lowered his gaze. He stopped himself from asking who because it didn't matter. It didn't matter whether the Elders told Ironclaw that, or any of his Maximals, or even Megatron. He licked the scar across his lips before closing his mouth. Optimus had been underestimated by just about everyone; from Rattrap to Megatron and the Vok, and probably those back on Cybertron. The truth was, he was nearly unstoppable. And although he had come to this realization through time, test, and battle again, he remained humble, modest and compassionate. Whoever told that to Ironclaw was wrong but Primal decided to be the better bot and leave it go. They would see sooner or later.

"Nexus.. would have been proud."

Zodiac's last words repeated in his mind again. If even he could have seen the potential and strength in Optimus, the same that Nexus Prime saw, then why couldn't Ironclaw? Why did he doubt him so much and lack confidence in his leadership? Primal had come a long way from starting out as a mere scientist, to becoming a Captain of an exploration crew, to evolving and adapting into a formidable Commander of this war of survival. Does he have what takes to take a life? Is that what Ironclaw's question meant? Taking lives to end this war? Anyone can murder someone else, effectively extinguishing their spark and ending their very existence; for ill satisfaction, or power, decreasing an opponent's numbers, mental instability, etc. Optimus certainly had the means to do so with his strength and the power of his weapons. But that was not his principals or his morals. It was not his place or his right to take away someone's life no matter how many lives they had already stolen, like Zodiac and Protoform X had, or what evil deeds they had done. Primal believed in there always being another way to stop them. Taking a life wasn't meant to be easy... It should never be easy. Was Ironclaw so desensitized to doing so that he never thought twice about it anymore? That it was the only solution? To Optimus, that made him more unstable than anyone else on his crew. He knew by now that he had to be doing something right because most of them were still alive and they were still able to stop Megatron and the Vok no matter what they threw at them. On the other hand, Primal has since accomplished extraordinary measures ever since he left Cybertron, some of which would be unfathomable to those back at home. And he had done it so far without taking another life. All of his Maximals had helped in one way or another to make it all possible.

"I don't think you can make those tough decisions. Can you?"

Ironclaw continued to be vague. What kind of decisions was he referring to? "I gave my life to save this planet, as well as everyone else stranded here, including all of the Predacons. ...Even the ones who sealed my fate. So if your definition of 'tough decisions' is murdering Megatron and his troops in order to win this war, then my answer is no. But that doesn't mean I'm incapable of defeating them. It just means that I can't do it alone." He looked to the badger with that admission and selflessness and without pride. "I haven't survived this long on Earth with sheer luck. I've had my entire crew behind me every step of the way, through the worst situations. It's never just about me, Ironclaw. It's about us. All of us. And it's a war worth fighting, whether it's for our survival or our freedom from oppression." Which, ironically, was what Megatron was rising up against. However, he was too power-hungry and selfish about it and wasn't offering the balance that it needed. Balance and fairness was what Optimus sought, but perhaps that was impossible to achieve. After all, not everyone can be pleased. "I will not stop until we capture Megatron and get back home to Cybertron. ...No matter how unlikely that may seem. There is too much at stake," he vowed, ever optimistic and concerned about at what time frame they really were in considering it could be before the Great War even began.

"Peace at our time" "Thats what I was sold."

Primal frowned lightly at the more robust Maximal before him. "I'm not sure there can ever be peace," he admitted softly with some of his own disappointment. "Even if Megatron was killed, someone would take his place. In our society on Cybertron, it's inevitable, and it will be an endless cycle." However, he did believe that the High Council was a big contributor to the mess and worked inappropriately, especially appointing those like himself - to rid of X - and Ironclaw - to hunt down and kill Zodiac and Dirge - to do their bidding. They had oppressed the Predacons too much for too long, and they had developed too many unethical experiments like Zodiac, Nemesis and X. The corruption and callousness was not going to give peace to anyone; it would only make matters worse. To Optimus, the biggest problem was the Elders, whom he was prepared to face head-on once he returned to Cybertron. Ironclaw may disagree but Primal had far too many reasons not to continue turning a blind eye to them. Optimus would instead stand up to them, not just for the Maximals who were suffering in silence, but for the Predacons as well, many of which deserved equality on their home planet and not dictatorship from the Elders.

"I don't know why I cam back."

Through the times of dealing with Ironclaw's antics and behavior, the gorilla realized how insensitive he had become toward the badger. He was still a Maximal with beliefs and who had an interest in one of his crew members. Perhaps there was some misguidance thanks to the orders he was given, but that didn't mean he was a bad bot. After all, there was something Wintersong saw in him. "I'm sorry, Ironclaw," Optimus said with sincerity. "I apologize for leaving you behind and for assuming that I had lost another Maximal. I don't know how you survived, but I'm glad you did. I should have done more to make sure everyone escaped." Not that he had much control over his decision making since he was compromised at the time, and he had responsibly stepped down from command because of it leaving Rattrap to lead them. But none of that really mattered now. He offered his apology and took the fall. He then asked him, "With Zodiac and Dirge gone, do you consider your mission complete? I ask because we could really use your cooperation and your help." What else would the badger do? Where would he go?

-----

"How quaint," "I didn't know.. he cared that much."

"Shut up,"

Narrowing his optics, Rhinox turned around in time to look at Zodiac as he watched him pretend to shoot at Aurora with his hand shaped like a gun, obviously with the intent to upset her and remind her of the shot he took at her not long ago. Raising the same fist he had used earlier to knock him out, Rhinox shook it slowly a couple times threatening to use it again. "I could do some work to that face of yours," he grumbled in his deep voice.

"You made a very good point, Rhinox." "I don' t like keeping secrets. Especially from you two or Optimus. Anyone, exactly. Everyone has them, but mine are very dangerous. You two must understand that my silence isn't by choice. No, that's not true. It is by choice. It's just that keeping it a secret is better than letting someone die because they know it. As a soldier, as a former member of the Maximal military, who has fought in a war, I have seen things and done things that I can't talk about. They are classified, so classified that if I talked, I will be denounce as a war criminal or worse those I tell would be subject to harsh consequences. There is no knowledge that is not power, but there aren't that many people who could handle such power. It destroys them or others around them."

Older and experienced than Aurora as he was, Rhinox understood the bureaucracy and the rules of classified information that Whitegrazer was implying. In fact, he was afraid that that was exactly what she was going to get into. However, he had no idea just how deep her secret went, and until then, he didn't understand why she wouldn't just tell Optimus since he seemed to be able to handle anything at this point.

"I am sorry, Rhinox, Aurora, for not being truthful. The truth is... This morning I had a vision and was told these specific coordinates. I was told to go alone. But I didn't listen. I thought that if this was an alien site, and if the site was so important that I needed to go, and since the aliens were aware of our survival, maybe there was something there that could help us. When I realized what an ingenious invention you made, Aurora, I thought that perhaps if I told you two to the coordinates that maybe we can have a clue or something that could help us in figuring out what the aliens would do. I didn't realize you guys were in such a hurry. I didn't mean to lead you two into danger. " "I was unaware that Zodiac was still alive. If I had known... I would have went by myself. But I omitted the fact that I was taking you two to the alien site. I should have told you. I actually... didn't realize I didn't..."

"We did leave in a bit of a rush," Rhinox admitted, leading to an apology for doing so. "But you still could have warned us before we had split up. Now that that's over with, I believe you when you say you were unaware of Zodiac's presence and you putting us in harm's way was unintentional." He felt better saying that but he still had a lot of follow-up questions, which Aurora didn't hesitate to pitch.

"How did you know it was an alien site?," "And if you suspected such, why not involve Optimus in the plans? Why only Rhinox and myself?"

Yes... How did she know it was an alien site...? he pondered.

"You probably realize that now that those weren't glitches and you would be correct."

The engineer had suspicions but he had to hear it for himself. Was he prepared for it, though? As much as he could be.

"I know what you two are thinking, and no, the Vok exiled me centuries ago.

"Say that again? The Vok exiled you?" Rhinox repeated her words with some emphasis. He was almost as taken aback as Aurora was when he glanced in her direction, but he was a bit better at hiding his initial reaction.

I have no knowledge of what they are doing here or what they plan on doing. Nor can I decipher their intent. They are strangers to me as they are to you. But now you know why I don't want Optimus to know about this."

"You are one of them?!,"

"Strangers," Rhinox repeated the Empath's interesting choice of words again as if he was offended or found it to be illogical that they were just as unknown to them as they were to her.

"Zodiac's abilities were the product of scientists attempting to recreate my power. They knew nothing of what they were messing with nor did I realize this was happening. They took a sample of my spark without my consent or knowledge and used it."

"All the power in the world.. and yet you couldn't stop them.. from taking it away from you.. and creating me in your image,"

"Optimus... He doesn't need that."

"Strange.. isn't it?," "I wouldn't be here if it.. wasn't for the combined.. efforts of Nexus Prime.. and you. In a way.. you two.. created me."

Rhinox's optics were large and bewildered with all of this, looking from Aurora to Whitegrazer to Zodiac. "How did you not know, Whitegrazer? How did they take a piece of your spark without you knowing?" That was surgical expertise almost beyond Rhinox's experience. Sure, he could bring a spark back from the other side of the Matrix and stuff it into a blank protoform... with Whitegrazer's help... Whitegrazer, who was part Vok or something? ...but he dare not splice a spark; it was far too risky and dangerous.

"You still refuse to share any of this with Optimus when he has had the most invasive encounters with them?" He shook his head since he was unable to understand her logic in that again. "You do realize that you had a vision this morning and so did Optimus. What if your connection to the Vok is also invading his mind now through your bond? Are they targeting him because of you?" Or had they really left something behind in him after all the experiments they had put him through like Primal had suggested? The scientist glanced around in thought as he threw spontaneous puzzle pieces together, mostly hypothetical reasoning but they were still things to consider. "The Vok have been targeting him since we landed here," he thought out loud with his mind racing. "They know this is Earth. They've been here a long time, in the past no less before we even showed up, setting up their traps and weapons before they finally had enough of us. They know who we are and where we're from. You were exiled from them, Whitegrazer? Why? What happened? ...You know, I don't really believe in coincidences." Could this whole situation really be as big as he was beginning to think it was? Primus..., he thought, and he had to speak with Optimus about it. Not necessarily about Whitegrazer and the Vok, but about everything else that was unfolding.

"It was a mistake for you two to find out, and my fault. I had to make a choice, and I thought even if you found out about me, that maybe it would be worth it just to gain any information on the Vok. Maybe the High Council would forgive you two, but I'm going to make sure all the same. There is a way to keep you two safe from any consequence. Erase what you scanned from me and Zodiac. Keep the information you scanned from the site. And forget what you learned and heard today. You two will be fine, though, and if they ask or interrogate you, just tell them that I forced you to lie, I threatened you. I used my abilities to manipulate you. They would believe that. You two will be safe. I promise."

Rhinox was not so easily convinced by her words. Even if they ever returned to Cybertron, they might not face the same Council that was in place before they had left. How much of their home world would be different by the time they got back? There was nothing they could do to erase what he and Aurora had just learned. In fact, Rhinox felt as though it had just opened another can of worms that even Whitegrazer didn't seem to be aware of. He didn't know about Aurora, but the engineer was not going to erase any data or lie to anyone. This was too big to be ignored. "For now, while we're still stranded here, we're as safe as we can be from the Council. But, Whitegrazer, if anyone should know about this, it should be Optimus. You do realize that, right? He is our commanding officer," he reminded her. Of course, he had no idea how this kind of information would effect their leader. To know that he was involved with someone who was once associated with the very aliens who have tried to kill all of them, whose weapon managed to kill Primal and whose scanners that had put him through excruciating pain? Perhaps it wouldn't go over very well... But Big Green still felt that it was the right thing to do, just as Aurora had felt.

"This goes for you as well, Zodiac.You say anything to Optimus and the others, and your fate would be sealed by those who hate us."

"My fate is.. already sealed!," "The Maximal council is.. already after me.. They sent Ironclaw to kill.. me and my brethren. "

Zodiac had a point. What did he have to lose whether he said anything to anyone or not? And would Whitegrazer really follow through with her threat, or rather the Vok's threat? Wait... Whose threat? He shook his head, perplexed.

"Or if that doesn't stop you, maybe this would." "You came to that site for a reason. Was it to find a way of escape? Or was it to try and find a way to regain your powers? If the latter, then I have a solution for you. Let me help you regain your abilities."

What?! "Whitegrazer," Rhinox tried distracting her, calmly at first, wondering what in the world she was thinking, making a deal like this behind Primal's back. But she continued.

"I can. After all, I was what those scientists tried to emulate. But what they learned nothing, only superficial. Only cruelty and pain. Torture. They knew nothing, and you didn't deserve that. I can guide you to a better way... a better path. What do you have to lose? If the Predacons found out, especially Nemesis, they will try and kill you. We are your only hope for survival. We will keep you safe and I can help you regain what you lose. Maybe even show you what you never had been shown in your lifetime. Something you lose a long time ago." "But... if you try to harm or kill any one of us, the deal is off." "I'll let you think about it."

"Whitegrazer!" Rhinox shouted then. Had she lost it? What was she thinking?! Suddenly he felt that they couldn't trust her again. First they found out that she was once with the Vok, and now they found out that she can reverse the effects of Aurora's "virus" to reactivate Zodiac's nanobots, thus returning to him his shape-shifting abilities and self-healing armor? His mouth was open almost as far as Aurora's in disbelief.

"Very well," "I will comply with your.. demands. The Maximals are safe.. from me. "

"You can't be serious! There's no guarantee that he'll keep his word if you miraculously reactivate his nanotech that we tried so hard to control for our own safety," he told Whitegrazer, speaking as though Zodiac wasn't right there to hear him. "After everything he has done, and his lust to kill Optimus and along with the rest of us, you're willing to believe him and give him that opportunity to pose as a fatal threat again? I can't allow this. I don't believe a word he says, and I doubt he'd be grateful to find any redemption with your help despite what he said to Optimus before he fell." Maybe some of Rattrap's skepticism and paranoia was rubbing off on him, but this was getting out of control now. Did she really expect Optimus to agree to this? Was she even going to tell him before she would do it, or give him any idea that she had the ability because she bared some kind of Vok resemblance?

(( OOC: And I'm out of time. Devoting four hours to writing this after work is long enough! Time for bed. ))

(Joint post)
Walking back towards the Darksyde, Umbra went inside for a moment. Then stepped out carrying what appeared to be a piece of webbing. Looking towards Starshadow he held the webbing up My ol factory senses are more limited on land, do you think you can use this to follow his scent?

Starshadow sighed and took the webbing, It's pretty pointless since the wind would of cleared his scent by now.... but I'll do what I can... she frowned as she looked at the webbing, obviously not wanting to smell thing that came out Tarantulas' spider butt and reluctantly took a sniff.

Hmmm...she looked around, the scent was very faint but not impossible to track, he's definitely outside.. she walked towards the entrance leading outside, transforming to her beast mode and started running, I have a lead!

Alright! I'll follow you. Umbra then started to run following Starshadow along like a bloodhound on the trail.

Starshadow was hot on the trail for quite awhile until the scent split up into multiple paths, huh...equal faintness....Umbra, search every cave or pit in the west, I'll sweep everything on the east.

Umbra glanced towards Starshadow for a moment, then simply shrugged. If she was going to try to run off again, she's eventually find him since she wanted to destroy him even more then usual now. Alright. Make sure to radio if you find anything. Umbra then walked towards the west.

Well that was surprising. Starshadow blinked and transformed into her robot mode, you're not worried I'd run off or something? she called out to him.

Umbra glanced back towards Starshadow You'd eventually hunt me down anyway since I know too much, right? Just makes it easier for you not to run.

Starshadow's ears flattened at that, You don't make Starshadow run to you! You run to Starshadow!

Right.. Well, don't run away and you wont have that problem. Umbra raised an optic ridge looking her, wondering if the vampire's circuits were more crossed then usual. He then started to walk away again, coming to a stop as he noticed something moving in the distance. Dropping by some near by rocks, he activated his camo and turned on his comlink to Starshadow Someone's coming,hide and we'll ambush him. the sound of a motorcycle engine heard coming closer towards their area.
Starshadow's ears perked up and ducked behind a large boulder. That was it! The sound of a motorcycle engine! She radioed calmly to Umbra, it's him. He's here...take him down while I find out where he came from.

Umbra simply waited as he heard the Motorcycle go by, then sprung out from behind the boulder opening his tentacles out and activating his thrusters, flying up behind Tarantulas. As he saw the Spider now, he could see he was carrying something on his back.
Umbra launched two of his tentacles forward as Tarantulas looked up ACK! Oh no! Tarantulas shouted, attempting to speed up. Umbra swiftly pulled himself onto Tarantulas' back, his other tentacles gripping on I have no time for your games Ninja, get off! Tarantulas shouted, starting to weave as he drove in an attempt to shake the Octopus off.
Umbra reached behind drawing his poison sword, then drove it into Tarantulas's side. a dark purple pulse ran over Tarantulas's body Urk... his motorcycle wheels slowing down he then fell over onto his side sliding along the ground. Umbra pulled the blade free and swung it, sending some of Tarantulas's mech fluid onto the ground. He looked back towards Starshadow activating his comlink You sure you want to bother finding his base?

I want to see what he's up to... she lied. She needed supplies and tools for her cave base and she is going to steal from him. The catbot stares following the tracks and radioed Umbra again, You owe me a nice dinner. Don't disappoint me.

Is fish on the menu? Umbra watched as Starshadow started to walk away. She could attempt to try to take that collar off with the tools at Tarantulas's base.. but she didn't have the skill and would merely blow herself up. Umbra then started to pick up Tarantulas with his tentacles. Opening his comlink to Megatron, Umbra spoke up Lord Megatron, we've captured Tarantulas..he's unconscious for now and was carrying something on his back. I have no idea what he's up to, we're currently investigating if his base is near by to maybe find out further details.

___________________________________

Landslide crossed his arms observing Ironclaw and Optimus's conversation. Though he did have some issues with the logistics of Optimus's plan for dealing with the Predacons. They were far from having the means of containing the Predacons and they weren't really willing to be reasoned with either. Perhaps Rattrap was right.. 'we're all going to die' would sound logical under these circumstances.. or maybe it was just due to Landslide's own old thought process and reasoning.. While a Maximal, he was still in the mindset of the Autobot era..

Landslide let out a sigh shaking his head, then went back to his console.

Whitegrazer saw Zodiac's gesture towards Aurora, watching the little one's face cringe in the horrible reminder of what he almost did to her. She put herself inbetween Zodiac and Aurora.

"We did leave in a bit of a rush," Rhinox admitted, leading to an apology for doing so. "But you still could have warned us before we had split up. Now that that's over with, I believe you when you say you were unaware of Zodiac's presence and you putting us in harm's way was unintentional."

"How did you know it was an alien site?," "And if you suspected such, why not involve Optimus in the plans? Why only Rhinox and myself?"

"I understand." She couldn't blame Aurora or Rhinox for their eagerness to try out Aurora's new invention. And she was quite relieved that Rhinox believed her when she told them she wasn't aware of Zodiac's presence. "Technically, I only suspected it to be an alien site. I didn't know for sure. That's why I wanted to investigate it along with you two." TyCross only gave her the coordinates and told her that she needed to see something. In her opinion, it could have been anything. It could have been something to do with the Predacons for all she knew at first, but as she mused over it, realizing it only had to be an alien. After all, TyCross might have identified as a Predacon like she identified as a Maximal, but unlike her, TyCross had no allegiance to Predacon cause nor did he wish to help them in their quest for freedom or revenge towards Maximals. It was all just a facade.... "I wanted to be sure before I involved Optimus. Like I said, at the time, I planned to investigate it alone, but when you two entered the picture, I realized it might be the best. You two are more of an expert on this. Moreso than I am."

"Say that again? The Vok exiled you?"

"You are one of them?!,"

Whitegrazer looked at them both and nodded, "Yes. I am a Vok. I look Cybertronian. You can scan every plate, circuit, and wiring inside me and I would fit the detail of a normal Cybertronian. The only thing I can't mask is my abilities. Empath... Empath is a description that best conveys their nature. Though, there are certain things I can do that an Empath can't." She remembered the conversation she had with Optimus. The time she told him what she was. She heavily sighed. She wouldn't call it a lie, but technically, she did lie. But she didn't think about it as her lying. Was it lie that she really wasn't Cybertronian? Yes. But after they exiled her, she... threw away that heritage. No choice. They threw her away. She thought she might as well accept that she was stuck being Cybertronian. The only thing that kept her going...was what she was brought there to do. What she believed she was there to do.

"Strangers,"

"It's the truth, Rhinox." She didn't blame Rhinox for his reaction to her statement. It seems unbelievable, but in the way, the Vok are unbelievable. "I'm one of them, but I'm not one of them. Especially after centuries of being on Cybertron. I know it is hard to understand, but the Vok are a species who have been around for a long time. Their presence and existence are shroud in mystery and legend. And they prefer it that way. I sent to Cybertron to complete a purpose and the High Council were there to witness it. But... The Vok distrust those beneath them. So they made sure to keep me in the dark, so the High Council or anyone... couldn't know too much. And I agree to it to protect them... to protect myself."

Whitegrazer shook her head.

Be very careful of what tell them, Whitegrazer. I'm warning you.

"All the power in the world.. and yet you couldn't stop them.. from taking it away from you.. and creating me in your image,"

"Strange.. isn't it?," Zodiac continued, "I wouldn't be here if it.. wasn't for the combined.. efforts of Nexus Prime.. and you. In a way.. you two.. created me."

How did you not know, Whitegrazer? How did they take a piece of your spark without you knowing?"

Whitegrazer wanted to look away from Rhinox, but she remained strong. She kept her solemn and calm expression. "I was severely weakened at the time. After the war, I was captured by Predacons who couldn't handle the fact that the Maximals win the war and.... well, let's just say the entire unit took out all their anger out on me." She had been weakened beforehand by executing an order that left her vulnerable. That took away her usefulness in the eyes of the High Council. After all these years, she was appalled by their opportunistic nature. Like the Vok, they too threw her away, no, worse, they planned to terminate her. Fearing if she regained her abilities that she might kill them. Part of her wanting to. Dark thoughts she plagued her mind, wondering if she made the wrong decision in letting them live. But it was too late, and she realized their deaths were do nothing. "When I was brought back to Cybertron by my mentor's help, I had no choice but to be transported to a hospital. The High Council didn't waste their time. I didn;t realize until I gained the footage of the surgery."

She glanced over towards Zodiac, "Yes, in the end, I'm responsible for your creation, but I wonder... do you know the true reason for that? What your purpose was?"

"You still refuse to share any of this with Optimus when he has had the most invasive encounters with them?" He shook his head since he was unable to understand her logic in that again. "You do realize that you had a vision this morning and so did Optimus. What if your connection to the Vok is also invading his mind now through your bond? Are they targeting him because of you?" Or had they really left something behind in him after all the experiments they had put him through like Primal had suggested? The scientist glanced around in thought as he threw spontaneous puzzle pieces together, mostly hypothetical reasoning but they were still things to consider. "The Vok have been targeting him since we landed here,"

"Optimus..." Whitegrazer wanted to give a reason, but she couldn't. Her mouth stood agape for a moment before she closed it up and remained silent for a moment. Her reasons to not involve Optimus were... personal. His reaction to what she has said and lied about. Part of her didn't want to see his face watch his face... his soul break into pieces, due to the fact that the woman he loved lied to him about who and what she is.

"It's always hard to try to match the pedestal people put us on. Hurts when we don't actually live up to it. No one is a saint. I think anyone who thinks they can do the right thing all the time just set themselves up for a fall."

Whitegrazer took a deep breath, "When the time is right, I will tell him. Talk to him in private."

"When you guys told me about Optimus, yes, I connected the dots. I didn't mean to cause Optimus any sort of distress. I didn't realize it occurred, but that was my error. It wasn't my intent, but I'll take full responsibility for it. But I'm not responsible for the Vok's attitude towards Optimus." Whitegrazer said towards Rhinox. "The Vok exiled me. They are indifferent to me. Their reasons for talking to Optimus and putting him through that are from them, not me. Back in the bunaglow, as Rattrap called it, I sensed them, and... They sensed me. They wanted nothing to do with me. Despite what I am, they treated me no differently.

he thought out loud with his mind racing. "They know this is Earth. They've been here a long time, in the past no less before we even showed up, setting up their traps and weapons before they finally had enough of us. They know who we are and where we're from. You were exiled from them, Whitegrazer? Why? What happened? ...You know, I don't really believe in coincidences."

"My exile... has nothing to do with here. My exile.... I'm sorry. I can't say anymore." Whitegrazer took her gaze away from Rhinox and Aurora and gazed at Zodiac. She couldn't. It was too dangerous for them to know. The High Council would sting her up and them as well. They didn't need that.

For now, while we're still stranded here, we're as safe as we can be from the Council. But, Whitegrazer, if anyone should know about this, it should be Optimus. You do realize that, right? He is our commanding officer,"

"I know, Rhinox, believe me, I know." Whitegrazer stared at Rhinox. She agreed with him, and if she thought she could, she would. And she understood the repercussions of such actions. About the High Council, though, she disagreed with him. She never considered herself paranoid, but the High Council make her cautious and wary of anything she spoke about. Too many people have died or disappeared because she talked. She wasn't going to do that to rhinox, aurora, or anyone else.

"My fate is.. already sealed!," the male argued back, making a futile attempt at standing up. "The Maximal council is.. already after me.. They sent Ironclaw to kill.. me and my brethren. "

"Maybe, but right now, let us handle Ironclaw. Your fate can be changed." Hopefully, she could find a way to keep Ironclaw from killing Zodiac. That was going to be tricky. Maybe they shouldn't tell Ironclaw at all. Dangerous, but Ironclaw... She had no choice but to not trust him. She was saddened by it, but what was she to do?

"Very well," he responded, still averting his gaze as he contemplated this sudden and unexpected development. "I will comply with your.. demands. The Maximals are safe.. from me. "

Whitegrazer smiled, "Thank you, Zodiac."

"Whitegrazer!"

"You can't be serious! There's no guarantee that he'll keep his word if you miraculously reactivate his nanotech that we tried so hard to control for our own safety," he told Whitegrazer, speaking as though Zodiac wasn't right there to hear him. "After everything he has done, and his lust to kill Optimus and along with the rest of us, you're willing to believe him and give him that opportunity to pose as a fatal threat again? I can't allow this. I don't believe a word he says, and I doubt he'd be grateful to find any redemption with your help despite what he said to Optimus before he fell."

"Rhinox, you misunderstood me." She wanted to reassure her friend. She had no intention of reactivating Zodiac's nanotech, but there was still another way for Zodiac. "That's not what I'm doing. I'm offering him something deeper, more profound." She looked at Zodiac once more, "And that can't happen unless you cooperate. You will regain your powers, Zodiac, but it will be in a different matter." She was giving Zodiac a chance and a choice. If he can show restrain towards his desire for their destruction, that may yet be some hope for him, and she would guide him to his true potential. But she won't if he chooses to harm or worse kill any of them. She understood what Rhinox said, but if by teaching Zodiac, maybe, maybe he could see. Maybe... at the end, he wouldn;t anymore. Maybe it was just blind hope. But she wanted to believe. To give Zodiac a chance. A chance to change.

"I realize this is a lot to take in. What I have told you two. If you believe you can't trust me, then I will understand if you don;t listen to me and show everyone what you found and tell them everything. I will accept any punishment for my deception."

She gazed up at the sky then gazed back at them, "But know this: Who you see me as, who I have been here, and what I have told you, I'm still me. I care for you two and the rest of this crew. Optimus. I haven't lied about that. My only wish was to keep you all safe and to try and bring a end to this war without the cost of life if possible. No matter what happens, I just wanted you two to know that."

OOC: Sorry for the wicked short post, but I have work soon AND will be away all weekend, sorry guys >_<

Naito wrote: Is fish on the menu? Umbra watched as Starshadow started to walk away. She could attempt to try to take that collar off with the tools at Tarantulas's base.. but she didn't have the skill and would merely blow herself up. Umbra then started to pick up Tarantulas with his tentacles. Opening his comlink to Megatron, Umbra spoke up Lord Megatron, we've captured Tarantulas..he's unconscious for now and was carrying something on his back. I have no idea what he's up to, we're currently investigating if his base is near by to maybe find out further details.

Megatron tore himself away from his studies long enough to answer Umbra's call, pleased to learn he had succeeded in capturing the renegade spider. He really wanted that wretched arachnid back at base to answer for his long absence, BUT, he'd long suspected the spider had a "home away from home" hidden somewhere in Predacon or perhaps even neutral territory, and knowing where said lair was and what he'd been cooking up inside was definitely something he needed to know...Normally he'd just have one of his agents carry the traitor home and leave the other to scout out the area, but he didn't trust Starshadow enough to handle either task unsupervised.

With a heavy sigh, Megatron decided his course of action and said "Examine the spider's cargo and tell me what it is, it could provide a clue as to what he's been up to and where...And against my better judgement, I wish for you and Starshadow to track down the spider's lair together, but keep him sedated and bound until you're back at base, I have little doubt that his lair is boobytrapped and that having him online would only make the place even more hazardous to your health. This goes without saying, but keep me informed of your progress."

Megatron did not like this course of action, he had the spider where he wanted him, but his lair could contain important secrets, and it would be a waste of time to have both his agents return before finding said lair while the tracks to it were still fresh. He would just have to trust that Umbra was competent enough to keep both Starshadow and Tarantulas under control until he could return with his findings, no easy feat but it was sadly the best course of action he could take right now.

"I could do some work to that face of yours,"

The natural reaction to such a threat for most would likely have been to refrain from whatever activity had warranted such a response, but the former shapeshifter barely reacted at all. It wasn't so much that he doubted Rhinox was capable of such violence. Clearly he was, if not prone to violence then at least capable of it, as evidenced by his earlier response to Zodiac's trickery. The renegade merely stared defiantly back at the other male. He was clearly at a disadvantage, being weak, wounded and unarmed.. and without his most powerful weapon of them all.. his advanced technology. But he would never admit defeat to someone he knew wouldn't seriously harm him. If he truly had wanted to do so, he had ample opportunity while the former shapeshifter was still unconscious.

Besides.. Whitegrazer was here. Despite a violent past that he had seen through their connection, she was now a pacifist. One that went out of her way to protect those around her. Even him. Someone she helped make into who he was today. His lip curled up into a slight smile as she stepped in between the puny fuzor and himself, as if he'd actually been able to do anything more than mess with the pathetic little female's thoughts and emotions.

"I'm sure you could," Zodiac finally responded, doing little to hide his amusement over how protective these Maximals were towards each other. "And then you'd have to explain your actions against an unarmed prisoner to Optimus. I'm sure he would love having to deal with yet another abusive Maximal in his ranks," he added. He spoke a little more slowly than normal, but at least he had regained enough strength to complete a sentence now.

Aurora reeled at that.

"It would totally be worth it," she muttered but part of her appreciated that Whitegrazer was now shielding her from the renegade's gaze. He so loved pushing their buttons, didn't he? "Besides Optimus would never take your side."

Zodiac chuckled upon hearing her response, but it was far from a jovial laugh. "Child.. I was only a little older than you when I first met Optimus. And I was able to play him for a fool even back then and again when I came to this planet as Nexus. Do you honestly believe I can't do it again?"

Aurora hesitated for a moment. "He's changed a lot. And he'll make you tell him what he wants to know this time and nothing else," she argued before stopping herself or she likely would have slipped up and said something about the truth serum to the renegade's face. She didn't want to give him that advantage.

"But you still could have warned us before we had split up. Now that that's over with, I believe you when you say you were unaware of Zodiac's presence and you putting us in harm's way was unintentional."

The fuzor believed her as well, but she was still confused and felt more than a little betrayed by the deception. She'd always known Whitegrazer had a mysterious past, but she had never imagined it would be like this.

"Say that again? The Vok exiled you?"

The renegade briefly shook his head but didn't drop the smile. "Why would you pick these Maximals of all creatures you could have adapted to?," he told Whitegrazer, genuinely curious of her answer. Her revelation of being Vok was hardly a surprise since she'd just about told him that a couple of weeks ago. What interested him more, however, was what she could have done to deserve being exiled. He had worked with the Vok for a short time until he had stolen something of theirs. Now he was less than enthusiastic about the prospect of being here in such a vulnerable state when they returned. So knowing that Whitegrazer had actually been one of them and then was forced out intrigued him.

Yet somehow he doubted she'd be willing to share.

"Technically, I only suspected it to be an alien site. I didn't know for sure. That's why I wanted to investigate it along with you two." "I wanted to be sure before I involved Optimus. Like I said, at the time, I planned to investigate it alone, but when you two entered the picture, I realized it might be the best. You two are more of an expert on this. Moreso than I am."

More of an expert than a former Vok? Aurora had her doubts about the accuracy of that statement. But she refrained from protesting since the rest of her explanation made sense in a way. Aurora was still a little hurt, somewhat weary, but still relieved Whitegrazer seemed to be on their side.

"Yes. I am a Vok. I look Cybertronian. You can scan every plate, circuit, and wiring inside me and I would fit the detail of a normal Cybertronian. The only thing I can't mask is my abilities. Empath... Empath is a description that best conveys their nature. Though, there are certain things I can do that an Empath can't."

So was Whitegrazer able to change the results of the scan, much like Zodiac had reprogrammed the computer to declare to take suspicion away from himself while still posing as Nexus Prime? Or was she truly in a Cybertronian form? If so how could that be? Aurora really wanted to know.

"I'm one of them, but I'm not one of them. Especially after centuries of being on Cybertron. I know it is hard to understand, but the Vok are a species who have been around for a long time. Their presence and existence are shroud in mystery and legend. And they prefer it that way. I sent to Cybertron to complete a purpose and the High Council were there to witness it. But... The Vok distrust those beneath them. So they made sure to keep me in the dark, so the High Council or anyone... couldn't know too much. And I agree to it to protect them... to protect myself."

"And still the Maximal council is considered the heroes," Zodiac muttered, although he was listening quite eagerly to every word the exiled Vok revealed. Unlike her, he truly was Cybertronian in nature. Only with implemented Vok technology. So a hybrid of sorts in a way, perhaps? But clearly she had more experience with them than he did despite her persistence that she knew nothing anymore.

She went on to explain how they had taken advantage of her when she was at her most vulnerable. Zodiac remained silent for the duration, merely pondering what she was telling them and how he could use the information to help his own situation. Aurora, too, was quiet. She had turned away so the others wouldn't be able to see the many emotions that were playing across her face. Hiding her emotions had never been the fuzor's strong point.

"Yes, in the end, I'm responsible for your creation, but I wonder... do you know the true reason for that? What your purpose was?"

For but a moment, that usually smug smirk on the pretender's face faded. He had always been told that he was meant to lead the assault against the Maximals' oppressive rule by infiltrating and taking out the High Council, replacing them with himself and other shapeshifting operatives when more had mastered the art of controlling the alien technology. Well, his handlers had never told him where the nanomachines originated from. He had discovered that on his own during another of his missions.

Her answer was as confusing as it was intimidating to him. The intimidation came in the form that she obviously knew something he was not yet aware of. Did they have ulterior motives for creating him that he was not aware of? And more importantly.. what were they?

He glanced at the taller of the two females, more than a little suspiciously. And then she made him an offer he could not refuse.

"Whitegrazer!"

"You can't be serious! There's no guarantee that he'll keep his word if you miraculously reactivate his nanotech that we tried so hard to control for our own safety," he told Whitegrazer, speaking as though Zodiac wasn't right there to hear him. "After everything he has done, and his lust to kill Optimus and along with the rest of us, you're willing to believe him and give him that opportunity to pose as a fatal threat again? I can't allow this. I don't believe a word he says, and I doubt he'd be grateful to find any redemption with your help despite what he said to Optimus before he fell."

Aurora stood as if frozen, merely watching the others discuss this socalled opportunity. Much like Rhinox, she too couldn't believe Whitegrazer would ever propose such a dangerous option.

Zodiac kept his best poker face on as Rhinox blurted out his opinion of the white mare's idea. It wasn't as if he hadn't been aware of them giving him something to deactivate the nanomachines. Oh, he'd been keenly aware of it since the moment it happened. And it hadn't left his mind since. But he had no choice but to look forward, to try to find a way to reverse the damage that had been done, rather than letting what happened consume him. Blind hatred was all consuming and it usually ended up with someone making mistakes and getting killed. He was far more calculating than that. Oh yes, he had hatched this plan out of hatred for Optimus but he had taken his time to work out almost every possible scenario prior to going through with it.

Of course a few factors he had not been able to predict had severely impacted the outcome..

Nexus would have been proud.. Oh, he remembered exactly what he said moments before the volcano had tried to devour him. And only luck and circumstances had allowed him to survive.

"Maybe, but right now, let us handle Ironclaw. Your fate can be changed."

"That's the funny thing about fate," Zodiac said a bit more quietly, "It can't be changed. Not unless you take certain parts out of the equation."

Of course he knew the Maximals would never get rid of Ironclaw for him. No matter how badly they wanted the information they thought they could persuade him to give them.

"Rhinox, you misunderstood me." "That's not what I'm doing. I'm offering him something deeper, more profound." "And that can't happen unless you cooperate. You will regain your powers, Zodiac, but it will be in a different matter."

The former shapeshifter eyed the female, somewhat suspicious of the way she was being so very vague. One moment she was offering to restore his powers, the next it was something different, then it was his powers again but with something changing.. His optics narrowed slightly, his suspicion of her honesty growing. But in the distance he caught sight of the familiar shape of the Axalon, immediately drawing his attention away from the female. He'd hoped the trip back would be longer, as he certainly wasn't quite prepared for what would surely come next.

Slowly, carefully, he forced himself up to a standing position. He wanted to appear strong, stronger than he felt for sure, and confident in himself. Truthfully he felt anything but that, his thoughts in a bit of turmoil right now. Thankfully the white female was not in his mind right now, not reading his thoughts or sharing her own socalled wisdom. The fact that she now had openly admitted to her past in the Vok didn't change anything. Yes, she had seen and experienced more than most of them.. perhaps even more than he had. But it still changed nothing.

He stared in the general direction of the approaching Axalon, finding himself wishing he was anywhere else. Well, almost anywhere. The Darksyde would surely be a worse option still. The last time he had peered down at the Maximal base was when he had witnessed Dirge die, and with his death Zodiac had been forced to turn to using the alien machine. Megatron believed him ignorant for doing so, for taking such a huge risk that held a risk of alerting the aliens of their whereabouts, but at that time Zodiac didn't have anything to fear. He could not have suspected what the Maximals were planning to do to stop him. Much less that it would actually work!

And now he was back here.. in the place he never thought he'd have to see again. But worse was the knowledge that Primal was waiting within those walls, no doubt waiting to bombard him with questions Zodiac had no intention of answering. And perhaps worse still was the fact that Ironclaw was waiting inside too, no doubt repaired and with his weapons ready whereas the renegade had none left. Whitegrazer had assured his safety, but his path to where he was today was littered with empty assurances and broken promises. How she planned to stop someone as single-minded as the one who had been sent here to kill him, the renegade didn't know.

Ironclaw mused at Optimus' speech about what he had sacrificed and what him and his Maximals had done to survive this war. This war on this planet. He knew about the planet buster and what Primal did, he'd already seen the report. The badger found himself comparing what he did in the volcano with what Optimus did. He had unknowingly saved the Maximals and potentially the planet. Never did he consider himself a hero, but an instrument of the High council who did their bidding. No more. He found no pleasure in it anymore and found Optimus' cause far more noble. He didn't think he would be able to live up to that kind of ideal but times had changed.

The transmetal gorilla still wasn't able to convince the badger that killing wasn't the way. He'd been doing this a long time and despite how he felt now, threats had been eliminated. Maximal lives had been saved. Ironclaw opened up his hand and stared at his palm intensely. 'Maximal'. He placed his hand on his chest, on the symbol. The symbol which didn't match the Maximals on this planet. It represented a more vicious breed of Maximal that maybe didn't belong here. He was not sorry for ending Dirge, never. Optimus still lived in this fantasy world where Aurora would still be here if he didn't. No. This was an issue which will take much contemplation and maybe they would find some middle ground.

Ironclaw didn't need an apology from Optimus. He was very used to working by himself for long periods of time. However, this unit... or family had something he'd never seen before in the Maximal military. The badger suddenly realised how vulnerable he looked and decided to stand up straight. Luckily Landslide seemed more interested his work.

"You... defeated Zodiac?" Ironclaw found it hard to believe so he must know how they managed to finally bring him down.

Hearing Landslide move around, Optimus glanced over his shoulder at him and saw him shaking his head before he returned to his work. The leader sighed quietly, wondering what the beetle was thinking. Did he disagree with Optimus? Fortunately, since Ironclaw had asked that question about doing what it takes, Primal immediately started to devise a plan in his head but he would have to work it out later.

Remaining silent, the leader watched Ironclaw stare unusually thoughtfully at the palm of his hand before he had placed it over the insignia of his chest, an insignia that was of Maximal allegiance but a much different purpose, almost a different faction. Optimus had seen them before but not on many. They were somewhat of an "elite" force, usually bound to secrecy and worked for the High Council. But what was going through his head at that moment? This was the calmest he had seen the badger in a long time without Wintersong being present. She had a way with him, a way that not even Optimus could tap into or understand. Not much later did Ironclaw seem to realize his body language and he suddenly straightened his posture.

"You... defeated Zodiac?"

"We developed a 'virus' of sorts that disabled his nanotech entirely. He was unable to shape shift and heal on his own." For a brief moment, Primal's mind recalled the horrified expression on Zodiac's face when the concoction took effect on him. He almost felt bad for him since it was surely the most devastating thing to happen to Zodiac since the torment he had gone through while being experimented on to acquire such unique abilities, but... then there was the boasting of him killing Nexus in his appearance. Of course, the Admiral's murder happened because of what they did to Zodiac, but that wasn't a viable justification for taking a life. "The Predacons were intent on killing him, or at least capturing him and then taking his life," Optimus explained further. "But I believe Zodiac held valuable information about the aliens, which I planned on extracting from him with a truth serum that Aurora created." Was that ethical? Perhaps not, although it wasn't torture, it would make someone speak the truth against their will. Maybe it would show others, including Ironclaw, that Primal was, indeed, capable of doing what it takes even though it didn't mean murdering someone. "Unfortunately, in the end, after everything that transpired and trying to save him, I watched Zodiac's unconscious and critically injured body fall into the lava, after which the volcano exploded and decimated the area." The TransMetal gorilla in robot mode paused thoughtfully, changing the subject back to Ironclaw since he honestly didn't know as much about him as he would like, and asked him curiously, "How long have you been working for the High Council?"

-----

"I'm sure you could," "And then you'd have to explain your actions against an unarmed prisoner to Optimus. I'm sure he would love having to deal with yet another abusive Maximal in his ranks,"

"It would totally be worth it," "Besides Optimus would never take your side."

"Child.. I was only a little older than you when I first met Optimus. And I was able to play him for a fool even back then and again when I came to this planet as Nexus. Do you honestly believe I can't do it again?"

"He's changed a lot. And he'll make you tell him what he wants to know this time and nothing else,"

"Don't give him the satisfaction of his poisonous words, Aurora," Rhinox told the young Fuzor as he watched their exchange. "He's not worth your time."

Then he turned his attention back to Zodiac hoping to end his little conversation by telling him, "You know, there can be a fine line between abuse and self defense, and he'd sooner trust my words against yours." He turned his attention forward again as they drove the transport closer toward the Axalon's boundaries.

"Technically, I only suspected it to be an alien site. I didn't know for sure. That's why I wanted to investigate it along with you two." "I wanted to be sure before I involved Optimus. Like I said, at the time, I planned to investigate it alone, but when you two entered the picture, I realized it might be the best. You two are more of an expert on this. Moreso than I am." "Yes. I am a Vok. I look Cybertronian. You can scan every plate, circuit, and wiring inside me and I would fit the detail of a normal Cybertronian. The only thing I can't mask is my abilities. Empath... Empath is a description that best conveys their nature. Though, there are certain things I can do that an Empath can't."

In that case, it was probably wiser to get others involved so she wouldn't have been out here by herself and bump into Zodiac alone. However, he still doubted that they had any more expertise on these alien encounters than she did since she was of Vok origin. And that was still scary to comprehend. This whole time..., Rhinox shook his head in disapproval of such a secret. He truly had no idea how Optimus would react to this. But all of this seemed like a lot of trouble to go to just to let Whitegrazer roam around afterward appearing like an everyday Cybertronian individual, and then assigning her to the Axalon crew, of all exploration vessels that were available at the time. It was as if the Council knew...

"It's the truth, Rhinox." "I'm one of them, but I'm not one of them. Especially after centuries of being on Cybertron. I know it is hard to understand, but the Vok are a species who have been around for a long time. Their presence and existence are shroud in mystery and legend. And they prefer it that way. I sent to Cybertron to complete a purpose and the High Council were there to witness it. But... The Vok distrust those beneath them. So they made sure to keep me in the dark, so the High Council or anyone... couldn't know too much. And I agree to it to protect them... to protect myself."

"So the High Council has worked with them," the engineer said out loud in a thoughtful manner since it was just more confirmation to his suspicions.

"I was severely weakened at the time. After the war, I was captured by Predacons who couldn't handle the fact that the Maximals win the war and.... well, let's just say the entire unit took out all their anger out on me." "When I was brought back to Cybertron by my mentor's help, I had no choice but to be transported to a hospital. The High Council didn't waste their time. I didn't realize until I gained the footage of the surgery."

Rhinox suddenly grew sympathetic toward Whitegrazer. She clearly had been through a lot in her lifetime so far and here they were interrogating her like she was some kind of a criminal or villain. The whole time she had been with them so far on Earth she had shown nothing but compassion and kindness. So that was either legitimate of her true nature, or she was one heck of an actor like Zodiac had proven to be.

"Optimus..." "When the time is right, I will tell him. Talk to him in private."

The rhinoceros hoped that would be sooner rather than later, but at least they had finally convinced her of saying something to him.

"When you guys told me about Optimus, yes, I connected the dots. I didn't mean to cause Optimus any sort of distress. I didn't realize it occurred, but that was my error. It wasn't my intent, but I'll take full responsibility for it. But I'm not responsible for the Vok's attitude towards Optimus." "The Vok exiled me. They are indifferent to me. Their reasons for talking to Optimus and putting him through that are from them, not me. Back in the bungalow, as Rattrap called it, I sensed them, and... They sensed me. They wanted nothing to do with me. Despite what I am, they treated me no differently.

"No, I don't believe you're responsible for their actions toward him," Rhinox admitted now, believing the mare. "That's an entirely separate circumstance that I believe is also no coincidence." He lowered his head with some disbelief of how deep all of this might be, completely disappointed by how those in charge of Cybertron were running things and how far they were willing to go just for their own ambitions. Megatron almost seemed like a saint compared to them considering he was much more forthwith and direct when it came to his intentions.

"My exile... has nothing to do with here. My exile.... I'm sorry. I can't say anymore."

Rhinox nodded. "It's alright, Whitegrazer. Thank you for being honest with us. We shouldn't have 'attacked' you the way we did with our accusations. Perhaps the rest of your story should be reserved for Optimus, if you so choose. For now, you've given us enough clarification."

"Maybe, but right now, let us handle Ironclaw. Your fate can be changed."

That... Rhinox wasn't so sure of, at least no where near as sure as the mare felt. But he supposed they should try at the very least.

"Rhinox, you misunderstood me." "That's not what I'm doing. I'm offering him something deeper, more profound." "And that can't happen unless you cooperate. You will regain your powers, Zodiac, but it will be in a different matter."

He didn't think he had. He understood that she was willing to put her time and effort into convincing Zodiac that he could be much more than he had been, that he had the potential to be someone better and bigger instead of an assassin, but only if he'd cooperate and accept her help once she gave him back his abilities. What had he missed? What made her so sure that he'd keep his word? Was she willing to tamper with his spark through her Empath abilities to "change" him?

"I realize this is a lot to take in. What I have told you two. If you believe you can't trust me, then I will understand if you don;t listen to me and show everyone what you found and tell them everything. I will accept any punishment for my deception."

"I don't think that's necessary for the time being," the chief medical officer concluded.

"But know this: Who you see me as, who I have been here, and what I have told you, I'm still me. I care for you two and the rest of this crew. Optimus. I haven't lied about that. My only wish was to keep you all safe and to try and bring a end to this war without the cost of life if possible. No matter what happens, I just wanted you two to know that."

"I think the majority of us believe in that, Whitegrazer. Only time will tell if any of this will actually help us in the end. Until then, you are still part of this team and we still care about you, too," he assured her. "Optimus will understand. It will come as a shock at first, I'm certain, but he will eventually look beyond his emotions and see what's before him. He'll consider all that we've been through together and what truly matters for the entire crew. So don't be afraid to tell him. Don't underestimate him."

"Why would you pick these Maximals of all creatures you could have adapted to?,"

That was actually an interesting question Zodiac asked toward the mare, and Rhinox believed he knew the answer, but it was not his to tell.

"And still the Maximal council is considered the heroes,"

Rhinox unexpectedly blurted out a small chuckle almost uncharacteristically but he couldn't help himself, and added in repetition to Zodiac's comment, "Heroes," while shaking his head. Zodiac was right, though, and now Rhinox, Whitegrazer and Optimus knew better, too. Shockingly, that seemed to be something they agreed on with the hybrid.

"Yes, in the end, I'm responsible for your creation, but I wonder... do you know the true reason for that? What your purpose was?"

That was intriguing even to Rhinox. Even Optimus might not have known Zodiac's true purpose. And, interestingly enough, her question seemed to stump the malicious renegade as it left him speechless and his smile faded with sudden uncertainty.

"Maybe, but right now, let us handle Ironclaw. Your fate can be changed."

"That's the funny thing about fate," "It can't be changed. Not unless you take certain parts out of the equation."

"Fate is like predicting the future. It's impossible to do so because it hasn't happened yet and there are too many variables in every decision we make in order seal anyone's fate," Rhinox chimed in. "No one and nothing has control over the future, but you do have control over your choices in the present that will lead you to more paths that will straighten or split later down the road."

As Zodiac stood up from their little vehicle, without much grace considering his current state of injuries, Rhinox moved toward him, standing near him as he watched him stare at their base that was within view now.

Meanwhile, within the command center of the Axalon, a monitor near Blackarachnia sounded lightly of the four signatures crossing into the ship's scanners' range. Three Maximal blips appeared on the screen as well as one that had been identified as a Predacon since there wasn't any other faction to relate his energy signature to just yet. If the black widow was to press a button that commanded Sentinel to specifically identify the signatures by name, it would then list Rhinox, Aurora, Whitegrazer and Zodiac since they had updated their system to include the shape shifter.

"Let's go, Zodiac," Rhinox urged him without touching him.

-----

After adjusting and sabotaging another jamming tower, Rattrap slid down the rails and planted his feet on the ground. Then he looked around and started to walk off a bit before stopping. "No Preds yet, eh?" he asked Cheetor and Wintersong rhetorically. "De next tower is a bit further off in de middle o' no where. Not exactly the best place ta get caught up in a tower," he mused, wondering if he should risk getting shot down being a sitting duck up in one of them should the ugly Predacons attack if they know the Maximals were tampering with their property. "Why don't you guys hang back a little bit from this one in case the Preds show up. Find a shady spot so you can surprise 'em and attack." He reverted back to his vehicle mode and drove off to the tower, looking around as he did so and smelling the air. Still no signs of Predacon activity. Kinda weird, he thought.

Pulling up to the base of the tower, he turned off his rattling engine and sat there on his wheels in silence. He listened with his little silver ears twitching, and sniffed the air while his linked tail casually swayed back and forth behind him. Blinking his bright green eyes, he finally transformed back to robot mode and glanced around once more, ever paranoid and cautious. But the ground was still with no diggers from underneath, the air was clean from foul odors besides his own, and the area remained quiet. For now. "Alright. It's now er never," the Spy decided and clambered on up the jamming tower to do his dirty work.

((Sorry for the delay on my part, this past week and a half has been kinda stressful on my end along with a cold the spontaneously seemed to pop up this past week. Had no motivation to do much of anything until today.))

Wintersong curiously looked towards Rattrap, watching him take a number of tools and other assortment of objects out. It seemed the rodent had a new idea strike his processor shortly following her statement, causing her to tilt her head to try and see what it was he was working on because whatever it was sure had Rattrap full of excitement and possibly even giddiness. Not that they needed to wait long.

"Quite a master piece. Who knew you were the artistic type Rattrap." Wintersong chuckled in amusement, being a bit more of herself for that brief moment before she put away her weapon and transformed to her own beast form and used her boosters and wheels to keep up with the rodent who worked as diligently on the other towers as he had with the first one they came across. Despite some of Rattrap's more negative aspects the Transmetal rodent also had his good side, this being a good example of not only his surprising ingenuity but also knowledge in demolitions. It'd prove to be a nasty surprise for the Predacons once they arrived and they had to only hope it wasn't any of the incredibly sturdy Predacons such as Megatron. Wintersong was one those who had first hand experience in attacking Megatron which felt like she might as well be trying to have tackled a boulder in beast form before they had been transmetalized and something sh didn't want a repeat of.

Yet, this also inadvertently brought up the one thing that had been on her mind, or one bot that is: Ironclaw. She didn't know for sure what his progress was and part of her hoped he was functioning and alive, as despite everything she had heard and why Ironclaw was there that part of her that cared about the badger just couldn't seem to go away, or she couldn't bring herself to let it go. Somehow, through all that rough and tough exterior and obvious secrecy now Wintersong felt there was a true Maximal, someone they could truly trust and view as an ally rather than an enemy within.

Still, she could not shake those eerie words back before the fiasco with Zodiac happened, about having to pick a side and him not wanting her to be caught in the crossfire when it came to a head. Did he mean about his real purpose there? How he didn't approve of Optimus like the High Council seemed not to? She didn't know for sure but she had an inkling that was the case and with Zodiac being transported there as they spoke Wintesong held some concern in her spark that no one would be able to hold Ironclaw back from lashing out and he would truly be seen as an enemy, and as much as Wintersong was one of those who did want to be rid of Zodiac for good she held that desire back, and a part of her hoped Ironclaw could as well.

Her thoughts though snapped back to reality as she heard Rattrap, giving a slight nod at his words. "Will do, just try to become target practice." She told him, a teasing edge in her voice as she moved to a position to where she could view the towers they already had passed and transforming to robot form, her wrist Missile Launchers activated to be ready.

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

Meanwhile, the way to the towers had been somewhat slow but the pace was kept to where Spineback was practically in a full run which was not incredibly fast due to how her beast form was built. Nevertheless, the steady pace soon was bringing them to their destination as she could see the jamming towers ahead and she was sure her flying companion probably could as well. "Hmm, they don't appear to have been messed with beyond changing the program." Spineback observed, expecting there to have been some further disturbance but the place seemed almost strangely undisturbed.

She had to give the Maximals credit, they were quite skilled and methodical, skills honed in this little conflict of theirs. Slowly as they got closer to the first tower, Spineback growled as she transformed to robot mode and stopping a few feet from the tower. She caught Maximal scents, three at the very least in the area and it hadn't been too long that they had moved on. Were they really reprogramming all of the towers? Such a task would surely take them hours, all day at best to get most of them unless the one changing the programming was skilled enough to work faster to cut time. Even then Spineback was highly skeptical they had someone of that skill and expertise to accomplish such a feet.

"Check the next tower Waspinator, just to be certain the other tower hasn't been messed with." Spineback instructed as she glanced at the Transmetal wasp, before turning her full attention to this first tower. Stepping towards the control panel she had no way of knowing what was awaiting her as the soldier-turned-medic came right up to the tower with her hands poised to type...and BOOM! The saurian femme set off the motion detector rigged by Rattrap, her hands barely reaching the keypad before the detonation went off with enough force to send her off her feet with a surprised yell and landing on her back in a slightly dazed state.

It was enough to leave a decent dent in her armor in some places, thankfully being more surface damage than anything due to her thicker armor but it still was enough to leave some damage and leave Spineback dazed and in shock. The Maximals had been busy. And after a few minutes of being left in such a dazed state, audios ringing from the blast, Spineback finally could make sense of what had just happened, making her wonder now if they weren't bothering with reprogramming as much as they were with setting a trap. Which meant..."Waspinator!" Spineback blurted out, now wondering if the wasp was fixing to meet a similar fate or already had.

((Hope the detonator going off is alright OOP. Figured since I fell behind a little bit it might help move things along.
EDIT:Also, if the other bots need something else to do I'm more than ready to have Tigerhawk make his less-than-grandiose entrance! And considering everything going on it might bring more fun to the mix considering what he use to be.))

OOC: Hi everyone, I truly regret having to do this, but I think the time has come for me to leave the game

I really wanted to hang in there and keep playing, but my real life responsibilities are just piling up & I don't have the time or energy for role-play these days. I've been looking after family during the day and working long hours at night, I hate doing this to you guys because I've had so much fun playing with you & I really wanted to be in this for the long haul, playing as one of my favorite animated villains & with an OC predacon of my own, so much potential to set in motion, but I just have to ease my load somehow & unfortunately the game has to be it. Again, I'm REALLY sorry guys, I didn't want to leave you guys hanging so suddenly & I know this is gonna throw a lot of plans out of whack but I really can't be doing this anymore, not enough time in the day and at night I'm too damn tired to even think about role-play.

Divide up my characters however you wish, I wish it didn't have to end this way, but I wish you guys many more awesome roleplay sessions. Thanks for all the fun guys.

((OOC: Aw I understand. Family and other life responsibilities come first. I'm going to miss you, DarkSpark. You did a great job with the characters, especially Megatron and Taranutlas when you RP'd as him.

EDit: Just anted to say to everyone else, that I will have two posts tomorrow. One, a joint post from Wintersong and I and my post for my other characters. I wanted to have these today, but things got in the way. But I will have them tomorrow. ))

((OOC: This is a joint post Wintersong and I created. I hope this is all right. My post for Whitegrazer and Blackarachnia will be coming up soon. ))

A billion light years away from the planet Earth, in a sea of red, orange, and yellow dust, was a nebula far, far away from the different species, organic or Transformers, of this universe, housing omniscient beings who swam in the cosmos' oceans doing the bidding of an even greater being with a name no one knows or no one dares utter without severe consequence. They were the Vok. They were servants of the One. No one could comprehend them except themselves. They had goals beyond the understanding of mortals, no matter how good or evil they were or how intelligent. Individuals mattered little to them. Everything... Everyone was just a piece of the greater whole. The greater good. There were no exceptions. A single individual was useless, unimportant against the entire universe itself.

The Vok themselves understand that the universe was in great peril. Because of a mistake they made years ago. A mistake they tried to correct. A mistake of trusting those below them in the evolutionary scale. The Vok have no more room for error or failures. Especially their own.

Especially from their own.

But now, things were getting out of hand. They had believed, for a time, that those on Earth have been neutralized. They had made preparations to manipulate the time and space, so they could undo the damage caused by those troublesome Cybertronians. Instead... another one of their signal beams have fired off. It had come from the mountain where they had hidden away an element of great power and destruction. To use if it needed to be. Those Cybertronians found it. But how? How?!

It said, "Things are getting too far out of our control. The Planet Buster has been destroyed. Those who have interfered with our project are still around and are causing more damage to our project. They have used and destroyed one of own hidden devices. How is this possible?"


"We have long underestimated their capabilities. These Cybertronians...they are not as simple as we thought to terminate and allow us to renew the project." The other said, floating near it's companion within their own area of the Universe. No one being could ever understand the beings that moved freely across space and time, unaffected by the laws of mortal beings and beyond the imagination of most. They were not bound to anyone or anything, nothing except the One. They were an extension of it's will, the bringer's of evolution on planets that seemed unable to support life until the Vok arrived.

Now, one of those many projects had become beyond contaminated, beyond saving. They would have to start anew! All because the Cybertronians had proved far more troublesome than they had hoped. "These Maximals and Predacons, they continue to contaminate eons of work and they are adapting, learning more about us. The more they discover about our devices the more we lose hold of this project." The same one spoke, seeming to look off into the distance, to the distant planet that had drawn their attention more than enough times that things were becoming out of control, far beyond their own.

"We are running out of options, ways to eliminate the contaminants." It spoke, turning it's skull-like face towards it's companion with an expression of seriousness. "This past signal...it cannot be ignored yet we have few choices of how to handle the situation much less keep our remaining safety measures intact." It spoke.


It said, with contempt in its voice, "These Cybertronians have caused us too much time. Too much time. These bipedal sentient mortal machines have done nothing but cause more chaos and corruption where ever they go. They are ciphers, draining resources and taking billions of lives that echo within the Void still. Despite what the one who saved us, the one whose face still lingers on that planet, different as he maybe, has done for us in the past, it doesn't make up for their sins. They deserve no mercy. No mercy. We gave them a warning last time, and now, look where we are. Doomed to start over like the times we have started over before." Yes, the experiment had it's issues before, but now, the Cybertronians had made it worse. Anger. Hatred. Failure would not be tolerate!

"No more. This backup plan was placed for this purpose. We would not deter from this action. The Cybertronians are a threat. And now, because of this signal, we must face the fact that someone...told them this information. We felt their presence inside the signal. Didn't you? He must have betrayed us. How could he have known of such a device we had other sites detailing that information, which was another one of our failed experiments? It must be him... The one we felt before. The one who shares our lineage. Due to her inference."

It swam around the pool of red and yellow cosmic dust before it swam back to the other, "But... he is part of us now. Because of her. Our knowledge... is in great jeopardy. Who we are is in great peril. Our enemies.... down below... WE have no choice now. We must..."

There was a vibration, an echo, "Our site. They were there. No! NO! We need to get them out of there. We can't risk them figuring out what we doing."


The other swam within the cosmic dust, listening to its companion as It did having been sometime since anything had ever gotten them this worked up. It was right, they had worked and toiled to create the world to head down the correct path they intended and it had been closer, so very close. Yet, the Cybertronians by same will of someone had guided these sentient machines to return to the prehistoric planet. It was almost as if they were never meant to finish as they had hoped, their project forever being changed because the Cybertronians could not heed their warning and continued their destructive path.

Yet, before the other could so much as speak It felt the same vibration, the same disturbance that they had felt far too many times before. How could they have found another!? "It must be him, the one who we thought could be trusted, the one we thought who could keep our knowledge. Alas, he might very well be our undoing." It states, anger beginning to fill its voice as it turned its skull-like face towards the very planet they had been speaking of.

It was concerned like its companion, wondering if they would find one of their last resorts after all this time, something they had rarely ever had to make use of. Certainly there was something, anything to divert their attention from this discovery. Then It took a moment to stop, thinking of their encounters with Primal, the one whose face so resembled the one who had helped them years ago. "What of these...pods they seemed so fond of, so eager to get. We have watched them fight and nearly destroy one another to get them. They lay scattered across this planet, perhaps if we look hard enough we can find one to divert that attention." It finally suggested, turning to its companion in inquiry.


It thought for a moment, "Ah! Yes, the pods that carry the people of the one who we spoken to before. His sleeping crew. Many of them were forced into emergency landing due to our weapon of mass destruction. Some of them hadn't activated. They aren't aware of their positions. If we can choose one of which is fully functional and activate ourselves, it may serve as a distraction that we need to keep them from figuring out what we plan to do."

Then it looked down far at the distance towards the planet, "If this works, we will kill them as well. We... exiled them to Cybertron to avoid destruction. They are part of us. Different than the rest." It wondered about it. They made the decision to cut off communication rather than destroy them. They had... shown mercy. No, it wasn't mercy. It was punishment for their failure, their arrogance, their selfish desires to mangle with the Cybertronian race, and looked what it brought? Cybertronians using their technology like little, underdeveloped humanoid children playing with guns. Because of them. They... deserved it. What little sympathy it had vanished. Their project was more important than selfish being who has done nothing but threaten their own existence by their own actions. Let them fall with those they choose over them.

By the planet's destruction, they might save their own existence.

"Have we selected the pod we wish to use?"


The pods, they were the answer they needed for a diversion, a distraction to draw the attention away from one of their last resorts. This site...it could not be discovered! The Cybertronians had done enough, discovering and destroying their sights, alien as they called them, halting the project each and every time, preventing the necessary needs to change the evolutionary path they were trying to achieve.

Still, they had a plan, their project would not fail. It couldn't, not now. So, It search, scanning across the planet they seemed to somehow see beyond any mortal being, even sentient lifeforms such as the Transformers. Their power was mysterious, vast, it allowed them to perform miracles, curses, to do extraordinary things one could only imagine as much as their existence. It was what was allowing the being, now floating within the sea of red, orange, and yellow dust, seeming to look upon the planet, scanning those that seemed to be non-functional from the Planet Buster's destruction or from the Quantum Surge itself.

After a little bit of time of silence the other finally spoke, "Yes, I have discovered one within reach of both of our adversaries. The tropical forest, not far from where many of their battles seemed to have taken place in the past." It stated, the pod being damaged but it was slight and workable. It seemed far enough away and offered perhaps some chance to keep Maximal and Predacon alike busy. "When you are ready we can start."

It stared at the other one, "We must begin now. We can't afford them to discover what we plan to do or they would find a way to defeat us once again."

"I'm sorry to inform you that you have already been discovered."

"You."

"I have a better idea."