"OC Episode #4"

[Blazemane]

Venatrix' reactions were faster than even Dinobot had anticipated, and he almost reeled backwards on instinct. But he kept his wits about him, and instead moved only closer to her swinging blades, thinking that keeping the gap as small as possible would allow him to use his strength to his advantage.

He ducked underneath the first powerful slash she dealt, but as he was coming back up, the second sword came, and he could only move his weapon fast enough to make her sword slide off his in a new direction, rather than directly block it. Unfortunately, her blade still managed to slice a shallow path across his face.

Without a moment's hesitation, Dinobot swept his sword at Venatrix' leg before kicking powerfully straight at her chest.

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

"This can't end well."

Optimus glanced down at Frilla beside him before watching Nemesis counter Wintersong's attack. "See to Wintersong," he ordered Frilla.

"Always a pleasure, Primal," "Love the new look!,"

Primal passed Nemesis a glare before she disappeared inside. Sprinting after her toward the confined shelter, he stopped just outside the entrance when he heard shots fired from within. Before the lights flickered off, he could see a plume of smoke in the storage unit and some flames starting to spread. "No!" he hollered. Without knowing where Nemesis was now, being more concerned about the fire she started, he closed his mouth plate and ran into the small, dark facility. Grabbing an extinguisher off of the wall, the dim emergency lighting flashed on-line, and Optimus immediately began sweeping the small flames with the extinguisher in an attempt to snuff them out before they reached the fuel tanks, the cloud of thick smoke wafting inside the room consuming him.

-----

"You have a point Icebreaker was just saying that's all. Most of the hard hitters for the Preds must be on the other missions."

"Which can't be good for them neither," Rattrap threw in. Better for 'em to have been here where our transport can handle some of dat heavy artilary, he thought.

"Could be but as you two said may be best for Optimus to see it first, or all of us to see it at once. Even if Frilla says she changed sides it might just be a plan to get in close."

"That's why you can't trust Predacons," the rat muttered, shaking his head.

Well.. if Saberfang starts.. having unusual side effects, Rhinox warned me about some.. health issues of Saberfang and asked me to start carrying a magazine of some specialty made ammo.. This tranqualizer missile is stronger then the stuff Nightmist was using, so I have to be careful how I administer it, but it's enough to take down Megatron in one hit in theory..

Rattrap glanced over at Icebreaker again as he held up the sedative. "Great. You know things are just fine an' dandy on our team when we gotta worry about someone goin' all She-Hulk on us," he said sarcastically. Concentrating back on his steering, they had pulled out of the rough weather, but it was dark now on the way back to the base with dusk probably just falling on the Axalon now.

-----

Tigatron continued watching Venatrix and Dinobot quietly, twitching his ears at sounds far and near and inhaling deeply for unusual scents. So far the proximity of the area still seemed at peace despite the sparring match before the white tiger. He hoped everything was all right back at Base. And with nightfall looming over them, he hoped Rhinox's and Rattrap's teams would be returning soon with good news.

[una]

Whitegrazer agreed with Rhinox and smiled at Airazor, "You should have no problem in getting to know the rest of our team."

She transformed into her beast mode, "We better hit it, guys."

She started walking towards the bases with the others.

[Wintersong]

Wintersong growled as her attacks were countered but before the tigeress could try again she backed up from the kick to her midsection, holding her stomach and was only vaguely aware Primal and Frilla had arrived before smoke began to come from the ope door. Not too long after she heard Primal holler inside. Looking up slightly she had some vision of the room, or what use to be visible and could only see the smoke. She just hoped nothing would happen from this, well something worse.

[New Moon]

Watching as Optimus left Frilla made her way to the tigeress and ignored Nemisis for the time being, there would be another time to get her later. Seeing Wintersong hold her stomach Frilla was sure there would be some damage, maybe a small dent, "Wintersong are you alright?" She asked with concern coming beside the taller femme and trying to see for any damage besides those on her chest and shoulder.

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

Feralnight nodded and went silent again, looking to one of the few windows and seeing the sky was early dark and by the time they'd get back to the Axalon the moons would likely be up. Leaning back in the chair she let out a deep sigh and just enjoyed the ride.

[NaitoKage]

Icebreaker nodded No kidding. Well, I better check on her. he waved as he headed back down the ladder and down into the cargobay of the Nomad, sitting down at a computer screen he started to review the data from the CR tank's scan. The data he was rather unfamiliar with, but noticed something strange. a CNA sample that partially matched Optimus Primal's was part of the fluid injected into Saber, it was strange and a bit concerning as to how or why Sonar had that.

Icebreaker rubbed his chin as he pondered for a moment Perhaps.. the alien clone? But why would he use anything from that.. just what is this junk? he said to himself.

____________

Rhinox watched as Whitegrazer started to walk away, then started to follow her. He made a mental note to reinstall Cheetor's locking chip as soon as they returned to base, his first concern being just getting out of the energon geyser field which was far too dangerous for any of them or anything to stick around.


_____________

Glowstick blinked, noticing how fast Cecaelia changes emotion. He wondered if she possibly suffered a form of bi-polar syndrome but said nothing about it. He spoke up finally while removing Starshadow's restraints Well good, we at least got that taken care of.. contrary to popular belief, I'm not entirely fond of taking others lives. Since your in bad shape, we're heading straight to base.. Neither one of you is mentioning the ship in here as that will screw you both over.

Glowstick then moved back from the two Hmm.. you two kinda look like sisters.. But that's probably just me. Well I guess I'll go pilot the- he then stopped as he turned, a few sparks of electricity seen coming from his back as he then held it with one of his limbs Ug.. no.. Maybe I'll leave the helm to you for now Cecaelia.. I'm.. going to let auto repairs continue.. he then transformed to his beast mode slowly, a sickly look on his eyes as he started to float away to the stairs.

[starshadow]

"Hai (yes) Glowstick-san!" Cecaelia walked back to the pilot seat and turned off the autopilot mode. "I wonder how the boss looks like.."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Starshadow walked to the quarters and sighed. Foolish girl...she's going to get herself killed one day. How would I answer to her sister if she dies? Would it be my fault that I allowed her to stay in this unknown planet? Or will it be her fault because of her decision to stay? she thought after closing the door and sitting on the floor.

What am I thinking about? Of course we are bound to die in this organic dirtball..I'll have to try my best to protect her like how I protected my own sister. she covered an optic with a hand and let out a sigh. What is our purpose of living? Live in harmony with selfish, petty and dishonest maximals? Or to start a war with them to fight for power and rights? That's a question no one could come up with a good answer. No one.... she ended her last thought and stood up

"Beast mode.." Starshadow reverted back into her beast mode and jumped on the bed, closing her blue eyes as she drifted to sleep.

[Phoenix]

Unable to resist the urge to make the situation more complicated for the Maximals, perhaps even take out some of them along with part of their base, Nemesis decided to leave the Maximals with a little farewell present. Although visibility was not good amidst the thick smoke, the Decepticon-turned-Predacon was not unaccustomed to performing her missions in darkness. She rushed over to one of the barrels of fuel that was located close to where the fire originated, quickly undoing the top lid. Within moments she then kicked the heavy barrel over, spreading the fuel across the floor.

"Hey Maximals," she then shouted, just as she once again kicked the rolling barrel this time sending it straight into the flames. "I hope your welcome home reception will be warm enough for you!"


With those words Nemesis transformed to her hawk form and took to the air, just as the fuel barrel went crashing into the fire. The fuel spilling out of it immediately ignited, sending the now flaming barrel shooting like a rocket while dripping burning fuel onto the soaked floors below. Nemesis herself only barely avoided the burning barrel shooting past her, scorching a few feathers of her right wing as it did. Nemesis tilted sideways, aiming for the open doorway, as the burning fuel was now rapidly approaching the remaining barrels and fuel cells.

Within the same compound, in one of the freezers, Nightmist's nanotech-ridden body lay dormant.

With the power having shorted out and the flames now wrecking havoc with the compound, the temperature inside the freezer had started rising rapidly. Perhaps due to the size difference between the Decepticon and the Predacon versions of Nemesis, some nanobots had been left behind in Nightmist's dead form upon Nemesis merging her own systems with that of the Maximal medic. This technology had not been designed to function outside of Nemesis' systems and would thus likely have ceased to function already if Rhinox had not slowed this process by having the body frozen.

With the increased heat from the raging fire and the resulting power-outage, the dormant nanobots also started coming to life again, possibly also influenced by the close proximity of Nemesis whom they had been designed to work with. A surge of activity had begun in the body, reshaping the mangled pieces into a new form as the fire raged throughout the building. Fortunately for the unconscious new Maximal forming inside the freezer, she still remained protected from the raging elements as the freezer itself was sheltering her.. for now. The ongoing process was quite rapid at first, but would eventually slow down due to the gradual deactivation of the nanobots.

[Venatrix]

Did she saw this correctly? Did her blade actually cut her mentor's face?
Her joy was short lived as he redirected her second slash en followed up with a kick to her chest.
She instinctively pulled her left blade to block his kick, before she knew this response was a mistake.
Dinobot's kick was powerful enough to bend and have it cut into her chest, while the kick had enough poer to send her flying backwards.
As the blade in her left hand was now useless, Venatrix dropped it onto the ground right before she placed her hand onto the ground.
This reflex made her body flip over, and have her feet touch the ground again.
The force of the kick made her slide back a few meters before she stopped.
She was facing Dinobot again. And this time she was slightly wounded, and had only one blade left.
She now was at a serious disadvantage.
But a warrior didn't complain. A warrior face every obstacle on its path with dignity.
She now held her one blade as if she held a sword. Upright, and behind her with both hands as she charged at the Maximal.
The fight already lasted twice as long as the last time she challenged Dinobot.
The Predacon swung her blade as hard as she could at her opponent's side.
She was fully aware her single blade was far less effective the her double bladed form, plus he could put far more power into his strikes with his sword.
So depending on how Dinobot would block her attack, she thought of multiple ways to react to his move.

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

Valkyrie watched as Waspinator was hit by the energon geyser and landed on the ground a few meters further.
She transformed back to beatstmode and flew towards the rest of the Maximals.
As she landed on Rhinox his back, and could rest for a bit, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, where Waspinator shot her.
She could use a nice comfertable time in the CR-chamber when they reach base. But for new her bestmode would repair most of the damage.
The Maximal bird looked at Airazor and smiled as her. "That was some fancy flying you did there. I'm Valkyrie. Welcome."

[Optimal Optimus Primal]

(( OOC: Gee whiz. For a 'Con who doesn't care about anything or anyone but herself, Nemesis sure is evil! Wasn't expecting that last stunt. Phoenix, do you want an explosion to happen? If so, I would imagine it would have some effect on Nightmist's body and the nanos, but I'll leave the big ka-boom up to you. ))

"Hey Maximals," "I hope your welcome home reception will be warm enough for you!"

As the smoke thickened, the back-up power flickered and the alarms sputtered. There wasn't enough power to keep the emergency systems functioning. Focused on extinquishing the flames, Optimus didn't notice the dark Decepticon female somewhere behind him despite her shouting something at him and his Maximals, nor the barrel she had knocked over that spilled fuel everywhere and then kicked across the floor in his direction. Just when Primal realized that the fire extinguisher was not enough anymore, he felt his legs pushed out from right underneath him by the barrel that continued rolling toward the flames. He landed flat on his back on the floor that was now doused in fuel, dropping the extinguisher during his fall. This was definitely not his day. He should've had Tigatron or Icebreaker with him to freeze the air, cool the temperature and exterminate the flames. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and now he feared that this situation had gravely escalated out of control. A hose with water wouldn't work fast enough to control the fire now, and instead of risking his life, Optimus decided to evacuate and leave Nightmist's nano-contaminated body where it had been stored.

Covered in fuel and slipping at first on the floor when he stood up, the Maximal leader raced through the storage unit toward the exit. With his vision already impaired, he could barely see through the smoke that was exiting the place as well, running into a few things that nearly tripped him. He couldn't ignite his prime-jets to get out quicker because he'd light himself on fire, so Optimus sprinted knowing there really wasn't any time left.

"Frilla! Wintersong! Move away!" Primal hollered at them as he exited the facility, urging them to get up and run. "Get back!"

-----

Something unsettling wafted in the air now. Tigatron was picking up a faint scent of smoke, but from where? His green eyes surveyed the area but since dusk was settling on them it was difficult to see the origin of the smell. Could it be the Predacons with Inferno? The white tiger stood up, his shoulder feeling better now, twitching the tip of his tail with uneasiness and raising his nose toward the sky as he sniffed the breeze. What of Nemesis and the others back at the base? "Wintersong, this is Tigatron. Is everything all right?" he inquired over his communication link.

[Wintersong]

"I'm fine Frilla don't worry."Wintersong assured the smaller femme removing her hands but there was luckily no dent or damage. But the smoke was becoming increasingly worrying and Wintersong just heard Nemisis, ears twitching slightly. What did the bird mean by that? Yet as Primal came into view shouting she looked cofused at first to what was wrong, sniffing the air and caught the smell of something...fuel. "Oh slag!" The tigeress quickly turned from the facility, knowing now why Primal was in such a rush, fuel was ever a good thing when fire was involved.

But hearing Tigatron, she replied back with a bit of urgency, "Nemisis was here looking for something but she set the freezer on fire. Optimus was just trying to extinguish the flames and now the place and him are covered in fuel, it's going to blow." She stopped by a boulder ad turned to the others, "Optimus,Frilla behind here!"

[New Moon]

Nodding Frilla turned to the sound of Nemisis again, not liking the sound of what she just said and jumped when something went flying into the air. Sure enough Optimus's voice only confirmed something was seriously wrong, wasting no time to follow the two larger Maximals and diving behind the boulder Wintersong had indicated.

[Phoenix]

(Ooc: Don't forget.. I married a firefighter. I've heard a story or two involving fires..)

In a hurry to escape before the raging fire spread to the fuel tanks and cells, Nemesis nearly crashed into Frilla and Wintersong in her rush to get by them. As much as she would have liked to settle things with the former Predacon and the tigress, now was not the time to do so. The bird swiftly ascended towards the dusky skies, leaving the burning storage facility behind her.

Inside the building the flames were in the process of engulfing the larger fuel tanks, rapidly raising the heat level of the fuel to dangerous levels. Within seconds the supply of fuel ignited, causing a massive explosion that resulted in the walls and a number of the pods and equipment stored nearby getting blown out by the resulting shockwave that preceeded a wall of flames spreading throughout the room. This was the fate of Nightmist's freezer as well. The unit went flying through the air, only to land relatively undamaged (aside from a bit scorched) amongst the trees not far from the base.

The rest of the storage facility, however, was not as fortunate as the intense heat from the burning fuel along with the barrels flying like rockets tore the place up.

[Blazemane]

Venatrix' attack would not be easily evaded, so Dinobot reflexively moved his sword to his side with its point towards the ground as if to parry her blade.

But instead of keeping his weapon in place to merely stop the path of the opposing blade, Dinobot proceeded to swing his sword around. Hopefully, he would create enough momentum against Venatrix' weapon to either force it out of her grasp or to send her slightly off balance. At the very least, it should have protected him from being sliced in the side.

[Venatrix]

Was Dinobot underestimating her?
The way the former Predacon redirected her blade was to easy to use the momentum to her advantage.
She didn't think it would've been effective to try and hold her own, and spinned around on her toes. Stopping inside her opponent's defenses and have her blade slash vertically.
She didn't have enough power left to make it a possible fatal strike, but she could cause a lot of damage.
She knew she couldn't hold this high level of combat for long before Dinobot would end the match in his favor.
Venatrix was getting very tired, very quickly.