TF Prime: Proving Grounds 3
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 9:50 am
Transformers Prime: Proving Grounds Part 3
New Spark
Grimlock watched the last transport disappear in a cloud of dust. Once they were beyond optic range, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Finally out of our faceplates,” Slag commented.
Normally, Grimlock disapproved of such comments, but he let it slide. Slag was saying what they all felt. The Spacers were such a demanding bunch.
Spacers were Cybertronians who made it off world when the planet went dark. With the news of Cybertron’s restoration spreading, more and more of them were returning. They tended to get underfoot like this latest batch.
But now, they were gone and Grimlock could get back to…
“Grimlock, you there?”
It was Sludge on the commlink.
“Go ahead.”
“A bunch of spacers just arrived compliments of Kaon.”
“Another one?” Slag cried out. “We just got the last one out of here.”
“Yep.”
They both could hear Sludge’s contempt over the comm channel.
“And when are we to find time rebuilding our own home if we’re busy playing nursemaid to these spacers!” Slag yelled.
“Slag…?” Grimlock warned.
“I mean if they could build or do anything useful that would be one thing…”
“Slag…” Grimlock tried again.
“But these Spacers don’t know how to survive or to take care of themselves, anything! They are WORTHLESS!”
Grimlock roared, “Slag!”
But it was too late. Slag transformed into a triceratops and let loose a feral roar. His eyes glowed rage red and he looked around for something to tear apart. Grimlock leapt into action and grabbed the triceratops by the horns. Little known fact: at top speed few things that can stop a charging Triceratops, but at a standing start even a Scout can hold one back. Grimlock held down the red and gold Triceratops and shouted to his friend.
“Grab control, Slag! Get it together!”
Slag’s eyes flickered between energon blue and rage red. In his mind’s eye, everything was tinted in a crimson haze. Someone pushed down on his horns. This pushed his whole head down making it hard to move. In this haze, something flashed across his field of vision. A set of numbers, coordinates, flickered in and out. Slag looked for the numbers and then the red fog shattered.
“Slag? You back with us?”
Slag transformed back into a robot. He looked around as he came out of the daze.
“Grimlock? Great Primus! I’m sorry. I guess I lost my head.”
Grimlock grunted, “It happens. You ok?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
Slag noticed Grimlock’s shin strut with a new puncture hole. It looked bad, but Grimlock brushed it off. Strong emotions can trigger transformation in Dinobots. For easy-going Slag or reserved Snarl, that didn’t happen often. For Grimlock, ‘rage’-forming was a constant worry, because they enter a feral beast mode.
“Hey, why don’t I go and get this latest batch settled?” Slag offered.
Grimlock nodded. Slag ran off to join Swoop at the Ground bridge depot. Grimlock reached for his left shin and felt the leaking energon. He winced in pain. It smarted but wasn’t bad. After a simple patch job, he’d be fine. He didn’t want Slag feeling guilty about the attack. At least, he attacked him instead of a fellow bot or the town.
Sludge hailed Grimlock over the comm.
“Hey, Grimlock. You got a moment?”
“Go ahead, Sludge.”
“Just got a call from Swindle says he’s found Shockwave’s lab.”
* * *
Stratodome
Vertebreak flopped down on his belly. The yellow and orange basilisk unsuccessfully scouted for a ground level entrance. Eight towers ringing a central one and the closest thing to a door were the cooling vents seven levels up. Whoever designed this complex hated foot traffic with a passion.
Vertebreak wondered if he had been forgotten. Scourge offered to carry him, but he refused. He was tired of the Pack’s pity especially from Icefang. Before, he was condescending. Recently, the ice drake felt sorry for him and he needed neither. He was a Predacon to be feared by friend and foe alike.
The basilisk settled in. If they needed him, they’d roar.
As he powered down, a glitch flashed across his vision. A set of numbers flickered in and out. They decoded into an image but static began building. Static that soon became white noise and then a deafening roar ending in a great boom.
Vertebreak awoke. One of the towers exploded above him. He leaped away from the flaming debris. Trouble and if the past was any sign his pack mates were in the middle of it. He dug his claws into the wall and began climbing.
* * *
Grimwing cleared his head with a shake. That explosion knocked him across the roof of the south tower. He was lucky it didn’t send him over. He barely survived the explosion he wouldn’t have survived the fall. Two jets rocketed past him. The gray and green gryphon snarled at them and gave chase.
“You missed! How could you have missed?” Tailwind shouted at Starscream.
“I didn’t miss,” Starscream shot back. “Predacons are notoriously resilient.”
“Now what do we do with him on our six?”
“Don’t panic! Press the attack!”
Starscream peeled off from the blue and red fighter. He came about and fired another missile at the gray Predacon. Grimwing let loose a firebolt engulfing the missile. Starscream banked hard to avoid a similar firebolt roasting his nosecone.
Two missiles fired by Tailwind connected with the gryphon knocking Grimwing back, but he stayed in the air. Starscream got in his blind spot and fired a missile hitting the Predacon’s flank. Grimwing roared in pain only to be hit by tracer fire from Tailwind. Grimwing tried to escape but everywhere he turned he was met with enemy fire. He was going down in a hail of gunfire when a firebolt winged Tailwind. Another Predacon joined the fight.
“Dreadwing!” Grimwing cried.
The blue and grey gryphon continued attacking from above. Tailwind, his right wing smoking, peeled off to regroup. Dreadwing started to pursue when a blast hit him square in the back.
Crosswind, the orange and black fighter jet, cackled excitedly, “Now this is a party!”
Crosswind was then struck by a frost bolt from Icefang. Icefang was hit in turn by Headwind.
Dreadwing scanned the area for their leader, but saw no sign of Scourge. He roared a command and the three Predacons scattered.
Starscream was feeling pretty good about himself. To see his enemies scurry before him, it is how he always imaged being leader of the Decepticons.
“Hunt the vermin down. Our new headquarters should be pest free.”
The three Winds split up after the Predacons while Starscream looked for an appropriate place for his new throne room.
* * *
The entire room rocked from an explosion. Scourge heard Grimwing screech followed by the roar of jet engines. He needed to get out of here. He leapt for the opening, but Overkill, the blue and white Ceratosaurus, clamped on his leg and dragged him down. His partner, a bright green Stegosaurus called Slugfest, transformed into robot mode and batted Scourge with his spiked-tail club.
The red and black Predacon tumbled across the floor. Pain flared from his right side. The area just above his pelvis was dented and oozing energon from a dozen ruptures. Scourge was more shocked by the fact he was hurt than from the injury itself. These ‘Dinocons’ were much stronger than their Dinobot predecessors. But not, Scourge thought, stronger than a Predacon.
Scourge changed into his dragon form. His injury was covered by scales and plating. One ear-splitting roar put the two Dinocons on the defensive. Unfortunately, his dragon mode filled half the room making him too big to escape out the narrow hole in the roof.
Overkill backed up to a transforming Slugfest. They cowered. Scourge thought he might gain their loyalty through alpha dominance. He stalked over to them. Then Overkill smiled deviously and Slugfest charged. Scourge’s forepaws came down on the stego, but Overkill leapt over his partner at the dragon’s long and now vulnerable neck. Scourge swung his head and knocked the Ceratosaurus aside, but he didn’t come away clean. Overkill managed to rake Scourge’s neck and Slugfest used the distraction to push in and ram Scourge’s chest.
Scourge breathed a gout of flame. That pushed his attackers back and gave him a chance to recover. They had him on numbers. He needed to neutralize that advantage and fast.
Slugfest and Overkill split up circling around both ends of the firewall. Overkill hugged the wall around the left edge. Slugfest came around passing the lab. As the fire died down, a low growl rumbled through the chamber. Unfortunately for stegosaurs, their rear is one enormous blind spot. When Vertebreak pounced from the lab, Slugfest was completely surprised. Instinctually, Slugfest swung his spiked tail. Vertebreak easily leapt over the tail landing on the plated back. The plates protected Slugfest’s back and neck as they were designed to, but Vertebreak wasn’t looking to kill, surprise was his goal.
Overkill hesitated. He didn’t know if he should press the attack or aid his partner. Scourge took the opening and swiped at the blue-white Dinocon. The Ceratosaurus went sailing. Next, Scourge turned to Slugfest. The stego was still trying to get a snapping Vertebreak off his back. The orange and yellow basilisk jumped off just as Scourge stalked over and let loose a firebolt that sent Slugfest into his partner.
Scourge turned to his flightless pack mate, “Thank you, Vertebreak.”
“Found some new playmates?” Vertebreak asked.
“Sadly no, more half-breeds from our creator. They aren’t the priority.”
Vertebreak looked quizzically up to his dragon leader.
“The others are being hunted outside. They need help.”
Vertebreak nodded. “Go to them. I’ll keep these two properly entertained.”
Scourge hesitated. These two were a handful for him. How long would a basilisk half his size last?
Both Dinocons got to their feet.
“Now or never, leader.”
Scourge transformed into robot mode.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
He rocketed through the hole leaving Vertebreak with two dinosaur Decepticons stalking towards him. Vertebreak cracked a feral grin.
“No rush.”
New Spark
Grimlock watched the last transport disappear in a cloud of dust. Once they were beyond optic range, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Finally out of our faceplates,” Slag commented.
Normally, Grimlock disapproved of such comments, but he let it slide. Slag was saying what they all felt. The Spacers were such a demanding bunch.
Spacers were Cybertronians who made it off world when the planet went dark. With the news of Cybertron’s restoration spreading, more and more of them were returning. They tended to get underfoot like this latest batch.
But now, they were gone and Grimlock could get back to…
“Grimlock, you there?”
It was Sludge on the commlink.
“Go ahead.”
“A bunch of spacers just arrived compliments of Kaon.”
“Another one?” Slag cried out. “We just got the last one out of here.”
“Yep.”
They both could hear Sludge’s contempt over the comm channel.
“And when are we to find time rebuilding our own home if we’re busy playing nursemaid to these spacers!” Slag yelled.
“Slag…?” Grimlock warned.
“I mean if they could build or do anything useful that would be one thing…”
“Slag…” Grimlock tried again.
“But these Spacers don’t know how to survive or to take care of themselves, anything! They are WORTHLESS!”
Grimlock roared, “Slag!”
But it was too late. Slag transformed into a triceratops and let loose a feral roar. His eyes glowed rage red and he looked around for something to tear apart. Grimlock leapt into action and grabbed the triceratops by the horns. Little known fact: at top speed few things that can stop a charging Triceratops, but at a standing start even a Scout can hold one back. Grimlock held down the red and gold Triceratops and shouted to his friend.
“Grab control, Slag! Get it together!”
Slag’s eyes flickered between energon blue and rage red. In his mind’s eye, everything was tinted in a crimson haze. Someone pushed down on his horns. This pushed his whole head down making it hard to move. In this haze, something flashed across his field of vision. A set of numbers, coordinates, flickered in and out. Slag looked for the numbers and then the red fog shattered.
“Slag? You back with us?”
Slag transformed back into a robot. He looked around as he came out of the daze.
“Grimlock? Great Primus! I’m sorry. I guess I lost my head.”
Grimlock grunted, “It happens. You ok?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
Slag noticed Grimlock’s shin strut with a new puncture hole. It looked bad, but Grimlock brushed it off. Strong emotions can trigger transformation in Dinobots. For easy-going Slag or reserved Snarl, that didn’t happen often. For Grimlock, ‘rage’-forming was a constant worry, because they enter a feral beast mode.
“Hey, why don’t I go and get this latest batch settled?” Slag offered.
Grimlock nodded. Slag ran off to join Swoop at the Ground bridge depot. Grimlock reached for his left shin and felt the leaking energon. He winced in pain. It smarted but wasn’t bad. After a simple patch job, he’d be fine. He didn’t want Slag feeling guilty about the attack. At least, he attacked him instead of a fellow bot or the town.
Sludge hailed Grimlock over the comm.
“Hey, Grimlock. You got a moment?”
“Go ahead, Sludge.”
“Just got a call from Swindle says he’s found Shockwave’s lab.”
* * *
Stratodome
Vertebreak flopped down on his belly. The yellow and orange basilisk unsuccessfully scouted for a ground level entrance. Eight towers ringing a central one and the closest thing to a door were the cooling vents seven levels up. Whoever designed this complex hated foot traffic with a passion.
Vertebreak wondered if he had been forgotten. Scourge offered to carry him, but he refused. He was tired of the Pack’s pity especially from Icefang. Before, he was condescending. Recently, the ice drake felt sorry for him and he needed neither. He was a Predacon to be feared by friend and foe alike.
The basilisk settled in. If they needed him, they’d roar.
As he powered down, a glitch flashed across his vision. A set of numbers flickered in and out. They decoded into an image but static began building. Static that soon became white noise and then a deafening roar ending in a great boom.
Vertebreak awoke. One of the towers exploded above him. He leaped away from the flaming debris. Trouble and if the past was any sign his pack mates were in the middle of it. He dug his claws into the wall and began climbing.
* * *
Grimwing cleared his head with a shake. That explosion knocked him across the roof of the south tower. He was lucky it didn’t send him over. He barely survived the explosion he wouldn’t have survived the fall. Two jets rocketed past him. The gray and green gryphon snarled at them and gave chase.
“You missed! How could you have missed?” Tailwind shouted at Starscream.
“I didn’t miss,” Starscream shot back. “Predacons are notoriously resilient.”
“Now what do we do with him on our six?”
“Don’t panic! Press the attack!”
Starscream peeled off from the blue and red fighter. He came about and fired another missile at the gray Predacon. Grimwing let loose a firebolt engulfing the missile. Starscream banked hard to avoid a similar firebolt roasting his nosecone.
Two missiles fired by Tailwind connected with the gryphon knocking Grimwing back, but he stayed in the air. Starscream got in his blind spot and fired a missile hitting the Predacon’s flank. Grimwing roared in pain only to be hit by tracer fire from Tailwind. Grimwing tried to escape but everywhere he turned he was met with enemy fire. He was going down in a hail of gunfire when a firebolt winged Tailwind. Another Predacon joined the fight.
“Dreadwing!” Grimwing cried.
The blue and grey gryphon continued attacking from above. Tailwind, his right wing smoking, peeled off to regroup. Dreadwing started to pursue when a blast hit him square in the back.
Crosswind, the orange and black fighter jet, cackled excitedly, “Now this is a party!”
Crosswind was then struck by a frost bolt from Icefang. Icefang was hit in turn by Headwind.
Dreadwing scanned the area for their leader, but saw no sign of Scourge. He roared a command and the three Predacons scattered.
Starscream was feeling pretty good about himself. To see his enemies scurry before him, it is how he always imaged being leader of the Decepticons.
“Hunt the vermin down. Our new headquarters should be pest free.”
The three Winds split up after the Predacons while Starscream looked for an appropriate place for his new throne room.
* * *
The entire room rocked from an explosion. Scourge heard Grimwing screech followed by the roar of jet engines. He needed to get out of here. He leapt for the opening, but Overkill, the blue and white Ceratosaurus, clamped on his leg and dragged him down. His partner, a bright green Stegosaurus called Slugfest, transformed into robot mode and batted Scourge with his spiked-tail club.
The red and black Predacon tumbled across the floor. Pain flared from his right side. The area just above his pelvis was dented and oozing energon from a dozen ruptures. Scourge was more shocked by the fact he was hurt than from the injury itself. These ‘Dinocons’ were much stronger than their Dinobot predecessors. But not, Scourge thought, stronger than a Predacon.
Scourge changed into his dragon form. His injury was covered by scales and plating. One ear-splitting roar put the two Dinocons on the defensive. Unfortunately, his dragon mode filled half the room making him too big to escape out the narrow hole in the roof.
Overkill backed up to a transforming Slugfest. They cowered. Scourge thought he might gain their loyalty through alpha dominance. He stalked over to them. Then Overkill smiled deviously and Slugfest charged. Scourge’s forepaws came down on the stego, but Overkill leapt over his partner at the dragon’s long and now vulnerable neck. Scourge swung his head and knocked the Ceratosaurus aside, but he didn’t come away clean. Overkill managed to rake Scourge’s neck and Slugfest used the distraction to push in and ram Scourge’s chest.
Scourge breathed a gout of flame. That pushed his attackers back and gave him a chance to recover. They had him on numbers. He needed to neutralize that advantage and fast.
Slugfest and Overkill split up circling around both ends of the firewall. Overkill hugged the wall around the left edge. Slugfest came around passing the lab. As the fire died down, a low growl rumbled through the chamber. Unfortunately for stegosaurs, their rear is one enormous blind spot. When Vertebreak pounced from the lab, Slugfest was completely surprised. Instinctually, Slugfest swung his spiked tail. Vertebreak easily leapt over the tail landing on the plated back. The plates protected Slugfest’s back and neck as they were designed to, but Vertebreak wasn’t looking to kill, surprise was his goal.
Overkill hesitated. He didn’t know if he should press the attack or aid his partner. Scourge took the opening and swiped at the blue-white Dinocon. The Ceratosaurus went sailing. Next, Scourge turned to Slugfest. The stego was still trying to get a snapping Vertebreak off his back. The orange and yellow basilisk jumped off just as Scourge stalked over and let loose a firebolt that sent Slugfest into his partner.
Scourge turned to his flightless pack mate, “Thank you, Vertebreak.”
“Found some new playmates?” Vertebreak asked.
“Sadly no, more half-breeds from our creator. They aren’t the priority.”
Vertebreak looked quizzically up to his dragon leader.
“The others are being hunted outside. They need help.”
Vertebreak nodded. “Go to them. I’ll keep these two properly entertained.”
Scourge hesitated. These two were a handful for him. How long would a basilisk half his size last?
Both Dinocons got to their feet.
“Now or never, leader.”
Scourge transformed into robot mode.
“I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
He rocketed through the hole leaving Vertebreak with two dinosaur Decepticons stalking towards him. Vertebreak cracked a feral grin.
“No rush.”