(( OOC: NK, so using Icebreaker's gun will allow OP to see thermal signatures? Or does he still need goggles or a visor or something to steal from the Predacons?
))
Hearing a shot below, the Vok looked down past his feet and found something trailing him fast. That blasted penguin Maximal! Stopping in mid air and turning around, he attempted to blast it with the same wrist cannon he used on the energon. Unfortunately, the duel weapon had been damaged because of that explosion and nothing came out. In a panic, he used his other arm and fired at the ice just before it made contact with him. BOOM! The explosion blew him upward and uncontrollably tumbling backwards through the air, the millions of ice particles dampening his prime jets and deactivating them. Free-falling, the clone crashed on the ground between some sparse large boulders, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Rargh..." he muttered, cursing the penguin in his thoughts while pushing himself up to transform to beast mode. He laid his back against one of the rocks and closed his eyes, taking in the pain and damage.
Finding Icebreaker there after the energon explosion, Optimus watched him fire one more shot up to sky. To his surprise, there was an explosion, and a cloud of ice dispersed in the air, much of it evaporating before hitting the ground. After that, he couldn't see where his clone might have landed if he had been hit. But it was quite again until Icebreaker spoke up.
Take it.. it's the best chance you have..Beast mode..
"ICEBREAKER!" Primal called out to his comrade, watching him convert to his beast mode collapsing on the ground. The gorilla quickly bent down and picked up the weapon the penguin tossed to him, but he hurried to Icebreaker's side anyway to examine him.
Stasis lock, thought Optimus, kneeling next to the ice bird and frowning. That energon blast must have wiped him out, even before he fired that last missile. Primus, leave it to Icebreaker to take it to the extreme. He had been a formidable opponent to the alien, and now without his help, Primal was having doubts about his own ability to stop that invisible menace. Although, now the Maximal leader was growing upset, which was an emotion to drive him further and harder against that alien. Perhaps it was something his clone lacked. However, he couldn't let his anger control him. He had seen the effects that had on Megatron on many occasions and the outcome was never a positive one.
Before he could engage the alien, wherever it had gone, Optimus had to get Icebreaker back to the
Nomad; he wasn't just going to leave his comrade there, vulnernable to Predacons or the alien clone again. Standing up, Primal maximized and stored the gun Icebreaker had given to him. Immediately he could feel the raw energon bristling through his circuitry. Reverting back to beast mode, he picked up the penguin and put him on his back. Balancing him there, he headed back toward the
Nomad at a gallop. Running this much on his knuckles over this hard earth was beginning to worn them, but he ignored it and pressed forward. He didn't know where the alien might turn up again.
"Nomad, this is Optimus. Icebreaker has been heavily damaged after the alien ignited a small deposit of energon. I'm bringing him back for repairs," he called over his comm. link.
"I've lost the clone's location."
-----
Saber and Dinobot just left the lift Tigatron.
"Acknowledged, Rhinox," Tigatron answered.
"Thank you."
"Orcariner, Saber-Fang and Dinobot are on their way as we speak," he notified the whale.
"Think we're fine so far Cheetor will be there before I am."
"Good to know, Feralnight."
"Yeah, I'm fine," "Nothing internal repairs can't handle with enough time." "Just try not leave without us,"
Tigatron smiled lightly at Cheetor's response.
"Don't worry, Little Cat. We were just repositioning the transport. We have the energon we need. Just watch your back."
Just then, an explosion was heard from where Icebreaker and Optimus were with the alien. Quickly, Tigatron observed the scanners in fear.
"Nomad, this is Optimus. Icebreaker has been heavily damaged after the alien ignited a small deposit of energon. I'm bringing him back for repairs," "I've lost the clone's location."
By the Matrix, the tiger thought, growing sad over the news but relieved that he had heard from someone after that explosion. If Optimus had to bring Icebreaker back, that meant his fellow arctic comrade couldn't walk on his own or he was unconscious. ...Or worse.
"Acknowledged, Optimus. I do not see the alien's signature on our scanners. Dinobot and Saber-Fang are on their way," he added, glancing over his shoulder at Wintersong who walked up to him.