Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.


Caliber: I am SO tired.

Toxica: Yeah. Who knew that Pandimala and Lockdown were such hard taskmasters?

Flintlock: Well, at least...we are ready to help them fight.

Pandimala: And it will be fun.

Caliber, Toxica, and Flintlock: *faint from exhaustion*

Pandimala: Did we do something?

Lockdown: *Shrugs shoulders*


Penelope-Toxica

Lennox-Flintlock

Epps-Caliber


Ch. 11: The Rise of Playback

Ten days. Ten days of training and stories and traveling. Also, it was filled with learning everything that they needed to know about the war and Cybertron and being a Cybertronian. It had been a long process but Penelope felt like she was truly a Cybertronian now. It was great that she was able to do this. She had wanted to do something more with her life that would help others and now she was getting the opportunity to do so.

Of course, the work had not been easy. For the first few days, solar cycles, whatever. Anyways, for the first few solar cycles, the training had been very hard. Nothing on Earth, no sort of training, came close to Cybertronian fighting. Penelope had loved the cyber ninja lessons with Lockdown and the sword training with Pandimala the most. The servo to servo combat was a little more difficult for her.

Flintlock and Caliber, they had been working on calling each other by their Cybertronian names, had the same problems and likes, except for the fact that they didn't like the ninja training and preferred the servo to servo combat.

Now, Penelope was in the control room with everybot else because Cybertron would come into their sights soon and Penelope couldn't wait. She had heard so much about the metal planet that she just had to see it for herself.

"Oh my Primus." Pandimala whispered in shock.

Penelope turned to the main viewing screen and stared in shock. The planet was covered in a black fog and nothing seemed to be able to be seen. The Virons had covered the planet in darkness.

"Pandimala, I'm so sorry." Penelope whispered.

It was quiet for a few nano-clicks before Pandimala whispered, "This is not how I wanted you to see my planet Pen. None of you. It was so beautiful before the Virons destroyed it."

Penelope nodded and put a servo on Pandimala's shoulder before saying, "Hey, you're here now. We are going to give Sentinel and those Virons the scare of a lifetime."

Pandimala smiled and nodded before saying, "Definitely." She then walked out.

"Where is she going?" Flintlock asked.

Lockdown looked at them before saying, "Well, she is probably going to go and get that suit on that you all made her. We are going to be working on getting the planet back as soon as we touch down."

Almost as soon as he finished saying that, Pandimala walked in. She had her entire outfit on except for her helm. "That was fast." Caliber commented.

Pandimala nodded and said, "I'm a fast change." She then seemed to study the viewing screen before asking, "Lockdown, are either of the moons being used by either side?"

Lockdown shook his helm and said, "Unless something happened while I was gone, which is very unlikely, neither of the moons are being used. Why?"

Pandimala smiled. "Well, we need a base of operations away from the fighting on Cybertron. What better place than one of the moons? And, if I remember correctly, Moon Base two is the closest moon to Kaon. Land us there immediately and then we can get everything set up before we hit the planet."

Lockdown nodded and Penelope watched as he moved the ship to fly to one of the moons. Once they touched down, they all got out and Lockdown put the cloaking on his ship before they walked into the main building on the moon. Once they were settled, they got everything going again before the met in the main room.


Pandimala sighed as she thought. They needed a way to get their takeover of Cybertron started. Lockdown was checking the recent posts from the Alliance's new frequency. Once he was finished, he turned to them and said, "We have a problem. Chala, Sunblast, Zinnia, and Shadow Fall got captured by a techno-organic hunter for the Virons and have been taken to the coliseum in Iacon."

Pandimala nodded as a plan started to form. "Lockdown, how much time do we have for the fog to go away?"

Lockdown paused for a click, probably checking his internal clock, before saying, "We have ten clicks before the fog gets back up."

Pandimala nodded before saying, "Ok, here is what we are going to do. We are going to use the teleport pad to teleport into the no bot land you were telling me about right outside of Kaon. There would be too many signals there for our teleport one to be noticed. Once we are planet side Lockdown, I want you to get to Kaon. Say that you had to park your ship somewhere else because the Virons changed routine or something."

She then turned to the other three. "Toxica, Flintlock, and Caliber; while he is doing that, I want you to make your way to Iacon. It will be a straight shot from where the teleport lands. It will probably take you five or six cycles of walking because you will have to avoid any Virons. You are all familiar with their symbol, yes?"

The three of them nodded and Toxica asked, "Pandimala, what are you going to be doing while we are heading to Iacon?"

Pandimala smiled and said, "Well, Playback will fly directly to Iacon. More than likely, he will be subdued by a group of Virons and be forced to fight in the coliseum. While he is there, he will try and free the four kids because they will most likely have to fight him. But, by the time that they are fighting, you three should be there and you will free any other prisoners that are from the Alliance. Remember that they have the infinity symbol underneath their normal one. When you get them out, call Lockdown and have him teleport you to outside of Kaon unless one of the prisoners you free has a flying mode. If one does, try to get a ride from them."

"Who is Playback and what does he have to do with what you are doing?" Caliber asked.

Flintlock and Toxica shook their helms before they both helm slapped him and Toxica said, "Cal, Pandimala's disguise is going to be called Playback."

Caliber had a look of understanding cross his faceplate and Pandimala knew that they were ready. So, putting on the faceplate mask, Playback said in his monotone voice, "Ok, let's get at these Viron creeps."

The other four nodded and they stood on the teleport before they were sent to the edge of Kaon. Once they were there, Lockdown left them and the other three headed to Iacon on pede before Playback jumped into the sky and transformed. As soon as he was ready, he activated his thrusters and made a speedy flight toward Iacon.

He was surprised when it took him getting right at Iacon's border before he was fired upon. The Virons must be getting overconfident. That was good. But, he knew that he needed his wings in working order so he transformed before landing in the square. It broke his spark to see the city look so destroyed.

But, he had to refocus his attentions when he was surrounded by a group of Virons. He didn't know many of them but, when a bot stepped through the circle that had surrounded him, Playback recognized him and was glad that the screen visor hid his emotions.

"Hmm, I've never seen you before. Who are you?" Dragstrip asked.

Thankfully, his voice was also monotone so he answered, "My designation is Playback."

"Well, I would like you to come with me peacefully." Dragstrip requested.

But, Playback shook his helm and said, "No."

Dragstrip shook his helm and said, "Too bad. Now we have to do this the hard way."

Playback knew that they were going to attack from the back so he gracefully moved out of the way as the bot behind him charged him. He then used one of his tentacles and grabbed the bot before throwing him away. Luckily, he had practiced using his suit on the way in Lockdown's ship.

More bots attacked him and Playback was tempted to just defeat them all. But, he needed to get captured so, once four bots jumped on him at once, he allowed them to subdue him. It didn't take long for him to get put into a forced recharge.


A few cycles later

Sentinel sighed as he waited. The fighting was supposed to have ended with the last fight but Dragstrip had called him and had insisted on one more. Dragstrip had said that they had caught a bot with no faction flying into Iacon and it had taken a whole squadron of their enforcers to take the bot down. If what Dragstrip claimed was true, then this bot could make his popularity rise and maybe even shut the rebels up about their supposed hope. Especially if he could convince the bot to join the Virons.

After a few more clicks, the sound of a gate rising had Sentinel rising in his seat. He was curious about the bot. The crowd went silent as the faceless bot walked out. Sentinel was a little crept out that the mech had a screen for a faceplate. Hopefully, the bot could talk. But, that wouldn't matter if the bot was as good as Dragstrip claimed.

When the bot stood in front of him on the coliseum ground, Sentinel leaned over the edge of his viewing area and said, "What is your designation mech?"

The mech raised his helm up to him and said, "Playback."

Well, at least the mech could talk, even if it was in a monotone voice. Clearing his vocals, Sentinel asked, "Well, I will only make you this offer once. Will you join the Virons?"

Sentinel was upset when the mech shook his helm. "No."

Sentinel growled and said, "Very well. Let's see if you are good enough to fight off five of my demons at once."

Sentinel was angered when the mech simply nodded. It was like the bot didn't give a scrap. But, Sentinel knew that the bot was not good enough to take on five demons, no matter how many normal bots he had fended off during his capture.

When the next gate rose, the crowd let out a cheer. They were hoping, as he was, that there would be much energon spilled and quickly. This was a surprise fight that they were glad to have. The cheering sound rose when the five demons walked out. He was glad that these were five of the bigger demons in his possession. In his entire time of hosting these games, only two demons had ever been felled in a fight and both were against experienced fighters who fell soon after by his special creatures.

The shriek of the demons caused Sentinel to glance down into the pit and he smirked as the demons surrounded the mech. Since he couldn't see the mech's wings, he assumed that Dragstrip had a jammer put on the mech that prevented him from bringing his wings out.

Sentinel was shocked when the mech smoothly dodged the swipe of the first two demons and jumped over them. While the mech was over them, he grabbed another of them by their head and used the leverage he had gained to rip the demons head off. The third ever demon to be killed and it was in the first clicks of the fight. This mech was good.

As soon as the mech landed, he turned and, to Sentinel's surprise, brought out four tentacles and used them to latch onto another demon and slam him into another one that was sneaking behind Playback. While those two demons were struggling to get up, Playback ran at one of the demons and twisted the head of that demon around, breaking its spinal column and killing it. The fourth demon to be killed and it was just as easily as the third one.

The three remaining demons surrounded Playback. Then then charged the mech but, again, the mech jumped up right when they were upon him and, to his surprise, transformed one of his servos into a blade before landing on one unlucky demon and slicing its head off. The fifth demon to be killed. Sentinel now really wanted this bot on his side.

The remaining two demons quickly lashed at Playback. But Playback used his extra wide, but thin, arms to block their efforts. While the two demons continued to fail to get through the mech's arm defense, they failed to notice two of the tentacles sneak behind them. They noticed too late what was behind them when the two tentacles drilled into the demons' heads, killing them instantly. Now, as of that day, seven demons had been killed in the coliseum. Five of those killings had happened in the last ten clicks.

Sentinel stood and motioned to two of his control bots. They nodded and took aim at the mech before firing their rounds. Said rounds were electrified rounds that wouldn't damage the bot. They just put Playback into stasis. Once the bot was positively down, two more of his control bots picked up the downed faceless mech.

"What do you want us to do with him?" One of the bots asked.

Sentinel thought about that for a little before saying, "Put him in the high security holdings." While the two bots hauled the faceless bot away, Sentinel turned to the crowd and said, "Thank you for coming tonight. Make sure to be here for the first match tomorrow because it is the one that you have all been waiting for. It will be those four Alliance bots against the mech that you have just witness fight."

Sentinel smirked as the crowd roared their approval. Tomorrow would be a very glorious day.


"Chala, I'm worried." Sunblast stated.

Chala glanced at her friend. The four of them had awoken in the same cell and they knew right away that they were in the holding cells below the coliseum in Iacon. They had all been very nervous at first. But, eleven solar cycles had passed and they had yet been forced to fight. "I am too Sunblast. Why is Sentinel just holding us here?" Chala asked.

Shadow Fall looked at them from where he was sitting and said, "I would have to guess that Sentinel is trying to make sure he has his best fighter fight against us. That we, will have no chance and our creators will be forced to watch us fall brutally and quickly."

When a scared sob escaped from Zinnia, Chala wrapped her arms around the ambulance femme. "I don't want to go offline. I want to see my creators and my brother again. I miss them so much." Zinnia cried.

Chala leaned her helm against her friend's and said, "Don't worry Zinny. We will be able to beat whoever they pit against us and by our creators time to figure out how to get us out of here."

"But Chala, how are we going to do that? Iacon looks so different compared to what my sire showed me from when had last seen the city. It might take them a stellar cycle to get to us. And, we might not be able to fight that long. A few solar cycles, if we are lucky." Shadow Fall stated.

Chala hugged Zinnia tighter as the femme started to shake in fear. Why did Shadow have to be so blunt about their situation? But, Chala knew that he was right. But she had to give them hope. Pandimala would if she was there and Chala was going to continue on in her grandcarrier's pedesteps. "We will fight for as long as we can. We have skills that we can use in our fighting. Zinnia, you can help do quick fixes on us when we get hurt. I know you carry an emergency med kit in your subspace."

Zinnia nodded and said, "Yeah, but I can't fight very well. But I will if I have to."

Chala smiled at her friend's bravery. She knew that was hard for Zinnia to say. Zinnia hated fighting greatly and she rarely did any training unless it was with her brother, sire, her, or Sunblast. "Sunblast, you are huge. You could definitely hold your own against those demons that they have or any bot that the Virons have. Especially if we are helping you fight."

Sunblast nodded and said, "True. I haven't seen many bots who weren't fliers that were taller then me. And I have beaten Megatron in a few of our training sessions."

Chala nodded enthusiastically and turned to Shadow Fall before saying, "And you Shadow. You pull those pranks with my brothers and Miltersaw all the time and I know that takes stealth and speed. Plus, I know that some of those pranks took a lot of heavy lifting to set up."

Chala could see that Shadow Fall was finally realizing what she was trying to do as he nodded and said with a smile, "Definitely. Those demons won't know what hit them." He then pointed to her before saying, "And Chala, you are our motivation and you have agility and speed from all that training you do with Starscream. Plus, you know how to read any emotions from living with your sire."

Chala nodded and smiled before saying, "Definitely."

They all fell silent, though, when they heard the sound of pedesteps approach their cell. Chala glared at the bot who stopped in front of it.

"Well, you bots had better enjoy your last cycles of being online. We found this new gladiator earlier that is a killer. And, the best part is, Sentinel says that you four will fight him tomorrow for the first fight. Not even Primus will save you from him." Toxic Root taunted.

Chala pulled a glare at him but, deep in her spark, she was terrified.

"You don't scare us Toxic Root." Sunburst growled.

Toxic Root chuckled and said, "I don't have to scare you. From what Flarespot told me, the mech you will be fighting took down five demons in one go. I would wish you luck, put you don't have a chance." He then walked away.

Once he was gone, Chala shivered. If the mech they were fighting was that good, then they didn't have a chance. It took her any cycles to fall into recharge.


Authoress: *sings* Two worlds, one family.

Toxica: *nods* Fitting song.

Lockdown: What is with Authoress and singing all the time.

Playback: When was the last time that Authoress sang?

Lockdown: Good point.


Penelope-Toxica

Lennox-Flintlock

Epps-Caliber

Pandimala-Playback


AN: Well, here is chapter 11 everyone, and bot. The two sides of this story are starting to mix! I wonder how it will go? Well, since I have the next chapter done, I guess you will find out soon! So, please read and review! But, no flames. *runs off to post next chapter*.