There was a slight hesitation at her name, before the infected predacon snarled. She stalked a little closer, steps hitching a little as if off balance while the tail lashed and half dragged against the ground.

There was something distinctly… hungry about her. Starved for something, and between each step the Predacon was panting, desperately trying to cool her internal systems. Ice Queen was well named, as she handles cold better then heat. If drift could get a scanner or visual reading he would be able to see that the predacon was running ten times hotter then what was considered normal.

Making use of her longer neck, the predacon lunged forward, jaws snapping at Drift.

A scanner he did not have; not readily available, of course– but he could pick up on her huffing and panting. Though there were two possiblities that ran through his processor at that. Either she was absolutely pissed, displaying it through an aggravated huff-and-puff or she was too hot.

Not that there was much Drift could do on the latter, the former however–.

His stream of thought was halted when he had to leap to the side to narrowly avoid sharp, dangerous fangs from sinking into him. Rolling a bit to come up into a crouch as he pulled both blades from their sheaths, crossed them in front of him to ward off any attacks.

“I don’t want to fight you…”

Oddly the predacon was slow to react, snapping a second and third time in the same area, turning only at hearing the mech’s voice. Swinging her head around, and gasping for cooler air and eyeing Drift.

How did he get over there?

Ice Queen took a step at Drift, and one foreleg collapsed under her, sending the big predacon half down with a wheezing grunt.

Feral Queen Rising

The faded optic slowly focused on Bumblebee, and then unfocused again. Her head rolled to the side, jaws opening to let the leaking chemicals out. Now that she was not moving her heavy venting was easier to see and hear. Yet Ice Queen’s sides were heaving up and down, even as she was loosing  unconscious. 

Bumblebee could also feel the heat coming off Ice Queen, that side-effect of the virus. Her legs tensed and then relaxed as she settled into stasis, systems still trying to cool down.

{Captain has been found and restrained?} Dreaded Wings commed back, hopeful as most of his halls had been cleaned and decontaminated now.

:: Restraints?! I didn’t bring any restraints, I just brought enough tranquilizer to knock out a Combiner, three times, and she needed every dose! ::

:: But yeah, she’s pretty much zonked out. ::

{..... ‘zonked’ is a restraint in away?} The young titan offered back, puzzled and revealed, {Some Warriors have offered to bring her back. Are you injured?}

To the side, Ice Queen wheezed out what might be a snore some other time.

Feral Queen Rising

The faded optic slowly focused on Bumblebee, and then unfocused again. Her head rolled to the side, jaws opening to let the leaking chemicals out. Now that she was not moving her heavy venting was easier to see and hear. Yet Ice Queen’s sides were heaving up and down, even as she was loosing  unconscious. 

Bumblebee could also feel the heat coming off Ice Queen, that side-effect of the virus. Her legs tensed and then relaxed as she settled into stasis, systems still trying to cool down.

{Captain has been found and restrained?} Dreaded Wings commed back, hopeful as most of his halls had been cleaned and decontaminated now.

Feral Queen Rising

Something like, “YYEaaarrr!!” came out of the predacon, her wings flapping as Ice Queen reared up, startled for the second time as the large maw gaped open in reflex to the needle’s placement. It was a long moment of being stunned, Ice Queen staggered as if finally getting effected by the injections and sedative.

The predacon swayed for a moment, and with a stubborn growling- gurgling?- swung  her head. Hitting against the canyon wall first with head, then neck and shoulder. Using her own body weight to try and shove or pull the needle out, to close her jaws again. The orange optic dimming as she staggered again, now more using the stone wall to support herself, yet not going down yet.

(Oh yeah! He’d done… something. Was that the-)

(Bee crunched against the canyon wall and stayed there. Icy ground against the stone just enough for him to wiggle out of the way, but not without one of his legs getting fairly crumpled. It would keep him from transforming and any complicated climbing maneuvers, but he could still run on it.) 

Come ON, Icy! Take your medicine like a goddamned champ and LAY DOWN! (He worked his far-too-slow way away from Icy’s shoulders, past the first injection site. He’s hoping to slide down her tail before he’s noticed, but there’s one last entry point for his last back-up medicine pack. He feels breath bearing down on his back as he puts in the very last needle at a crease on the base of her tail. She shouldn’t have needed this much…) 

Please please please don’t die from this…

Another startled barking sound, the Predacon staggering away from Bumblebee. Then with an effort used her right wing to push off the canyon wall, staggering and with a growl she spread her legs. Making use of having four to keep balance as well as the tail that dragged now.

Ice Queen shook herself, a full body rattle that stared at the head and down to her tail. Stubbornly trying to stay awake, trying to...to...She spotted Bumblebee and gave a hungry sound that turned into a growl. Fangs fully exposed, with propellant still leaking out, the queen took two jerking steps towards the minibot- and staggered. A foreleg collapsed, buckling and giving out, sending Ice Queen down to the ground at last. She struggled against the sedative effects, but being injected at three different points, it was a loosing battle.

Feral Queen Rising

Something like, “YYEaaarrr!!” came out of the predacon, her wings flapping as Ice Queen reared up, startled for the second time as the large maw gaped open in reflex to the needle’s placement. It was a long moment of being stunned, Ice Queen staggered as if finally getting effected by the injections and sedative.

The predacon swayed for a moment, and with a stubborn growling- gurgling?- swung  her head. Hitting against the canyon wall first with head, then neck and shoulder. Using her own body weight to try and shove or pull the needle out, to close her jaws again. The orange optic dimming as she staggered again, now more using the stone wall to support herself, yet not going down yet.

Feral Queen Rising

At least being up higher will help him stay out of direct line of sight. The predacon still wasn’t hard to track. Staying in place in one canyon bend, tugging at the sides of the old car she found. Ice Queen lifted her head only to try and get some of the water in a stream, then moved to scrap her fangs on the stones and walls, searching for minerals. Something to help the content need to feed and replenish the leaking propellant. 

(Okay… there she was. Bee crept closer as quietly as he could. Bouncing from wall to wall of the canyon had him on her “back” pretty quickly, watching over her from above. He unconsciously put her between himself and the poor car she was munching on.) 

… (He swallowed. He had to be on the mouth side, or somewhere where her plating was thin enough to get an injection in… which would probably still be her mouth. Fuuuuck.) 

The mouth was currently trying scrap at a rock, and then the Predacon started to stalk the car again. Hissing at it as Ice Queen slid into a prowl, though not nearly as graceful as it could have been. In fact, the Predacon that Bumblebee knew was very…sluggish in her movement. Almost like a delayed reaction to what she wanted to do and what her body was able.

Ice Queen pounced, flipping the abused human made car over to start ripping off parts. Surcharging for the fuel tank, for old oil, for any fluid. Large chucks of the aged and rusty metal were still gulped down like the roof had been a bit ago. She was distracted, wings half held open, half hanging as well, exposing the joints of the extra limps.

(Oh, wing joints… those were perfect. He could do this! He could REALLY do this! This was the kind of stuff he did!)

(Taking a running leap, Bee jumped from the canyon and landed with a whumpf on Icy’s back, right between her wings with the injector in hand. Time for her shots! He stabbed the needle into the soft plating of her wing joint.) 

(It made him want to throw up. He hated needles.) 

There was a startled, almost barking sound at the impact on her back, Ice Queen half dropping the car- and then a roar bellowed out at the stab of the injector on the sensitive wings joints. The sound echoing in the canyon, almost deafening if it had been a human maybe. Instincts took over as she half jumped, swing her head and long neck around to snap at what was on her. Turning at the same time as her wings arched up. 

Large fangs grazed close to Bumblebee once, twice- the snap though was quiet right. She could not see who was on her- and it would take a klik to realize why she couldn’t see. Ice Queen had twisted her neck around so it was the blinded right optic with the burned Decepticon brand that was facing the minibot. She was biting at air near, and it would not take her too much longer to remember to twist around to the other side to properly see her attacker.

OH GOD! (Bee leaps back, optics not really processing what’s up with Icy’s eye at the moment. All he can see are the teeth snapping down too hard near his arm, and in a panic, he jumps to the place where he knows teeth can’t get to: the top of her head.) 

(Shouldn’t the sedative in the shot have done something by now? Maybe she needed a bigger dose. She needed to go down right the hell now, thank you! WHere else did she have soft plating?!) 

The good thing was that Ice Queen had not noticed where Bumblebee went. She did have some heavy horns and a thicker crest on her head after all. Maybe some memory or being used to smaller mecha climbing on her? Either way the big head was swinging around to snap at her back again- this time with her good optic. 

She snarled at noticing at last that her attacker was missing! backing up she moved to look down, arching her neck and roaring again, the spines along her neck extending. That was the trouble with fully grown predacons- there was not very much in the way of soft plating! Yet maybe, if the minibot was smart enough there was a few optics in the joints. That space where the jaws met- the smaller joints between the plates on her neck- hip joints? Maybe some where on the tail? Bumblebee would have to be quick! Once he used another injector Ice Queen would realize where he was faster.

Feral Queen Rising

At least being up higher will help him stay out of direct line of sight. The predacon still wasn’t hard to track. Staying in place in one canyon bend, tugging at the sides of the old car she found. Ice Queen lifted her head only to try and get some of the water in a stream, then moved to scrap her fangs on the stones and walls, searching for minerals. Something to help the content need to feed and replenish the leaking propellant. 

(Okay… there she was. Bee crept closer as quietly as he could. Bouncing from wall to wall of the canyon had him on her “back” pretty quickly, watching over her from above. He unconsciously put her between himself and the poor car she was munching on.) 

… (He swallowed. He had to be on the mouth side, or somewhere where her plating was thin enough to get an injection in… which would probably still be her mouth. Fuuuuck.) 

The mouth was currently trying scrap at a rock, and then the Predacon started to stalk the car again. Hissing at it as Ice Queen slid into a prowl, though not nearly as graceful as it could have been. In fact, the Predacon that Bumblebee knew was very…sluggish in her movement. Almost like a delayed reaction to what she wanted to do and what her body was able.

Ice Queen pounced, flipping the abused human made car over to start ripping off parts. Surcharging for the fuel tank, for old oil, for any fluid. Large chucks of the aged and rusty metal were still gulped down like the roof had been a bit ago. She was distracted, wings half held open, half hanging as well, exposing the joints of the extra limps.

(Oh, wing joints… those were perfect. He could do this! He could REALLY do this! This was the kind of stuff he did!)

(Taking a running leap, Bee jumped from the canyon and landed with a whumpf on Icy’s back, right between her wings with the injector in hand. Time for her shots! He stabbed the needle into the soft plating of her wing joint.) 

(It made him want to throw up. He hated needles.) 

There was a startled, almost barking sound at the impact on her back, Ice Queen half dropping the car- and then a roar bellowed out at the stab of the injector on the sensitive wings joints. The sound echoing in the canyon, almost deafening if it had been a human maybe. Instincts took over as she half jumped, swing her head and long neck around to snap at what was on her. Turning at the same time as her wings arched up. 

Large fangs grazed close to Bumblebee once, twice- the snap though was quiet right. She could not see who was on her- and it would take a klik to realize why she couldn’t see. Ice Queen had twisted her neck around so it was the blinded right optic with the burned Decepticon brand that was facing the minibot. She was biting at air near, and it would not take her too much longer to remember to twist around to the other side to properly see her attacker.

Feral Queen Rising

At least being up higher will help him stay out of direct line of sight. The predacon still wasn’t hard to track. Staying in place in one canyon bend, tugging at the sides of the old car she found. Ice Queen lifted her head only to try and get some of the water in a stream, then moved to scrap her fangs on the stones and walls, searching for minerals. Something to help the content need to feed and replenish the leaking propellant. 

(Okay… there she was. Bee crept closer as quietly as he could. Bouncing from wall to wall of the canyon had him on her “back” pretty quickly, watching over her from above. He unconsciously put her between himself and the poor car she was munching on.) 

… (He swallowed. He had to be on the mouth side, or somewhere where her plating was thin enough to get an injection in… which would probably still be her mouth. Fuuuuck.) 

The mouth was currently trying scrap at a rock, and then the Predacon started to stalk the car again. Hissing at it as Ice Queen slid into a prowl, though not nearly as graceful as it could have been. In fact, the Predacon that Bumblebee knew was very...sluggish in her movement. Almost like a delayed reaction to what she wanted to do and what her body was able.

Ice Queen pounced, flipping the abused human made car over to start ripping off parts. Surcharging for the fuel tank, for old oil, for any fluid. Large chucks of the aged and rusty metal were still gulped down like the roof had been a bit ago. She was distracted, wings half held open, half hanging as well, exposing the joints of the extra limps.

Feral Queen Rising

At least being up higher will help him stay out of direct line of sight. The predacon still wasn’t hard to track. Staying in place in one canyon bend, tugging at the sides of the old car she found. Ice Queen lifted her head only to try and get some of the water in a stream, then moved to scrap her fangs on the stones and walls, searching for minerals. Something to help the content need to feed and replenish the leaking propellant. 

Feral Queen Rising

Grasping a rocky, spire like outcropping in fore-pawns, the large form stood up. Wings half arched up to cast a larger shadow over the new landscape below. The Predacon stared, tiling her head so her good optic could, now a washed out, more orange shade rather than red now.

There was an almost rasping sound to the ‘breathing,’ the Predacon almost panting in an ongoing struggle to cool down. With the sun beating down on metallic hide, she turned to start down into the maze of canyons below her. Forced to twist the long neck and swing her head around to get a good look with her better optic.

Doing so sent a splattering of fluid off her fangs and jaws. There was a constant… pressure inside, in several places in her frame. This was one of two in her head, forcing an overproduction of propellant, forcing the predacon to start chewing on raw energon and anything to help. It left a rainbow shined trail as she staggered into the canyons, headless of any possible trap as the beast mode instincts blindly drove Ice Queen to find more energon. Any energon. Shade…somewhere to cool down…!

Somewhere…

…some…

…something…

…to…

…E…

…A…

…T…

The predacon left behind her a distress beacon that had been sent after her inadvertent banishment from her living ship. Unaware of the looping message that was both warning anyone of the situation, as much as asking for help.

{Distress Deacon 5408: Warning, virus infection. Warning, infected Predacon. Distress Deacon 5408: Medical aid needed. Warning, infected Predacon.}

(This was it. Moment of truth.) 

(Nickel and the ship medic had given him the supplies he needed, and Bee’s level of ‘expertise’ with medicine meant that he was better off the ship while the other bots took care of the grubs. He was anti-virus’d up the wazoo now, and in his subspace, he held a dosage big enough to treat Icy and, hopefully, knock her the hell out so Dreaded Wings could bridge her back.) 

(He fell into Icy’s region of space with a quiet little thump against the ground. He was shivering all over. He couldn’t see her yet.) 

There was a chitter of entrancement from the comms before the space bridge would close. Leaving Bumblebee in the dessert like landscape just before the canyons. Thankfully it would not be hard to track the predacon he was after. 

Not long though, the minibot would hear a bellowing half roar, half screaming sound from the metallic dragon. echoing weirdly in the maze like place, and then the sound of rending metal as she found some old car inside the canyons.

Feral Queen Rising

Grasping a rocky, spire like outcropping in fore-pawns, the large form stood up. Wings half arched up to cast a larger shadow over the new landscape below. The Predacon stared, tiling her head so her good optic could, now a washed out, more orange shade rather than red now.

There was an almost rasping sound to the ‘breathing,’ the Predacon almost panting in an ongoing struggle to cool down. With the sun beating down on metallic hide, she turned to start down into the maze of canyons below her. Forced to twist the long neck and swing her head around to get a good look with her better optic.

Doing so sent a splattering of fluid off her fangs and jaws. There was a constant… pressure inside, in several places in her frame. This was one of two in her head, forcing an overproduction of propellant, forcing the predacon to start chewing on raw energon and anything to help. It left a rainbow shined trail as she staggered into the canyons, headless of any possible trap as the beast mode instincts blindly drove Ice Queen to find more energon. Any energon. Shade…somewhere to cool down…!

Somewhere…

…some…

…something…

…to…

…E…

…A…

…T…

The predacon left behind her a distress beacon that had been sent after her inadvertent banishment from her living ship. Unaware of the looping message that was both warning anyone of the situation, as much as asking for help.

{Distress Deacon 5408: Warning, virus infection. Warning, infected Predacon. Distress Deacon 5408: Medical aid needed. Warning, infected Predacon.}

Ironhide’s only a few miles away when he picks up the beacon. Loaded down with scrap metal and weary from his latest run, following it is probably a terrible idea, considering the fact he’s apparently heading towards an infected predacon. But something tells him this is pretty important, so he goes anyway.

The air makes his field prickle when he finds the location of the distress beacon - residual bridge energy. Whoever was carrying the beacon got bridged here. Why? And where are they now? At least they’ve left a pretty obvious trail; they seem to have no concern about covering their tracks, if the giant pedeprints are anything to go by. Their size makes Ironhide hesitate. How big would something with that size of pedes be?

Something to worry about later, he supposes. For now he’ll just follow the trail and see where - or who - it leads to.

The beacon itself looks like it had been more tossed into a space bridge, half embedded into the ground. As Ironhide follows the trail, he could see claw scraps in the looser earth with half drag marks that was the tail. Some scraps were on the sides of the canyon farther in, including where the Predacon leaned against the wall.

Soon enough there would be deviance of what, who, Ironhide was tracking started to chew on things. Any minerals were gnawed on, attempting to keep up with the over production of propellant. the Predacon gave a frustrated bellow, the half growling, half roar- and then spotted an older car. Possibly abandoned, possibly not and just left by some campers. Either way it was half stalked and then launched at. Jaws starting to rip into the human made metal hungrily, no shame with tearing the SUV apart to try and eat parts. Ice Queen was semi-blind for now to anyone coming up.

save the bugs

“Bee-friend!“ Vita chirped a warning, filtering her wings as the living ship thickened his field around the yellow mech. Pushing him away from the closed and locked vent- for the first time there was a grate that had been slid into place.

{Do no go that way yet…Bumblebee.} Dreaded Wings warned, pushing to get Been to go out the now open door to the halls. Speaking the minibot’s name aloud, possibly for the first time. {Medic Nickel has asked you to meet her in the cargo….kitchen. I will guide you. Workers, bring the young. Medic will check them.}

Nickel? NICKEL!!! Nickel’s here?!

OH MAN, we’re all saved! (He leaps down from the wall and sprints along Dreaded Wings guiding lights.) She has actual training! She knows what to do! 

Come on, Vita!!! 

"Beefriend, waut, grubs can't rush!" vita protested, fluttering her wings and scooti,g after, arms full as her sister was trying to carefully balance the other two fussy insecticon sparkling.

Feral Queen Rising

Grasping a rocky, spire like outcropping in fore-pawns, the large form stood up. Wings half arched up to cast a larger shadow over the new landscape below. The Predacon stared, tiling her head so her good optic could, now a washed out, more orange shade rather than red now.

There was an almost rasping sound to the ‘breathing,’ the Predacon almost panting in an ongoing struggle to cool down. With the sun beating down on metallic hide, she turned to start down into the maze of canyons below her. Forced to twist the long neck and swing her head around to get a good look with her better optic.

Doing so sent a splattering of fluid off her fangs and jaws. There was a constant… pressure inside, in several places in her frame. This was one of two in her head, forcing an overproduction of propellant, forcing the predacon to start chewing on raw energon and anything to help. It left a rainbow shined trail as she staggered into the canyons, headless of any possible trap as the beast mode instincts blindly drove Ice Queen to find more energon. Any energon. Shade…somewhere to cool down…!

Somewhere…

…some…

…something…

…to…

…E…

…A…

…T…

The predacon left behind her a distress beacon that had been sent after her inadvertent banishment from her living ship. Unaware of the looping message that was both warning anyone of the situation, as much as asking for help.

{Distress Deacon 5408: Warning, virus infection. Warning, infected Predacon. Distress Deacon 5408: Medical aid needed. Warning, infected Predacon.}

save the bugs

“Bee-friend!“ Vita chirped a warning, filtering her wings as the living ship thickened his field around the yellow mech. Pushing him away from the closed and locked vent- for the first time there was a grate that had been slid into place.

{Do no go that way yet...Bumblebee.} Dreaded Wings warned, pushing to get Been to go out the now open door to the halls. Speaking the minibot’s name aloud, possibly for the first time. {Medic Nickel has asked you to meet her in the cargo....kitchen. I will guide you. Workers, bring the young. Medic will check them.}

Distress Beacon 5408

“Beta fine! Come, help colony! Quick-quick time.” The insecticon shook her head, she was far less armored then Nickel, but unlike some of the other younger workers on the living ship was not as short as them. Still smaller but also still able to hop onto the wall and followed after the medic.

{I will guide him there.} Dreaded Wings assured.