Chapter 5: Keep your Eye on the Target

Prime P.O.V

Placing the earmuffs back on, Orianna prepared to fire at the target again. As she raised her weapon, she exhaled evenly and rolled her shoulders, finding a comfortable stance. She tilted her head slightly and some of her black and red locks fell about her shoulders like a waterfall. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on the target and fired. The bullets erupted from the chamber, a small cloud of smoke momentarily enshrouding the muzzle before wafting away on the light breeze.

This time the cluster of bullet holes were more tightly packed together but I had only counted ten hits, there were 15 bullets in a round. Still, she had improved. Orianna pursed her lips and growled in annoyance as she pulled the ear muffs off.

''You improved Orianna. I counted an extra three hits this time and they were all closely packed together. You got several kill shots in,'' I could tell she was annoyed with herself, but she still needed to focus on what she had achieved.

''Yeah, but I gotta make every shot count,'' she turned to face me as holstered her weapon again. ''I bet YOU don't miss do you?''

It was my turn to snort out loud. ''I wouldn't necessarily say that, but I am considered a fair shot amongst Autobots. Millions of years of practice.'' I winked at her. ''Give yourself time.''

''Ha! I don't have millions of years Prime, nowhere near it!'' Orianna folded her arms across her chest again. ''Perhaps you could show me? I've never really seen the ''Great Optimus Prime'' in action, apart from Mission City and, to be honest, I was mainly focused on not getting dead!''

I chuckled at her teasing comment as I slowly rose to my pedes and produced my blaster from its storage compartment in my back. ''Well, given I came here with the intention of letting off a few rounds, I don't see why not.'' I brought my trusty ion blaster up before me and planted my pedes firmly in the ground. This weapon packed a punch. I half turned toward Orianna. ''You might want to step back a bit Orianna.'' She did so dutifully, placing her earmuffs back on her ears.

Once I knew she would be out of harm's way, I refocused my attention on the Transformer sized targets at the far end of the field, over half a kilometre away, priming my weapon. I ex-vented and lined up my sites before I squeezed the trigger and sent a volley of shots towards the targets. The muzzle of my blaster erupted in smoke and flames as the bullets were rapidly ejected.

Without realizing it, I began to stalk several paces towards the targets, producing my second blaster from behind my back and alternating firing between the weapons. I was lost in the moment, channeling all my pent-up emotions, and unleashing them in a controlled barrage. Moments or perhaps minutes later, I removed my digits from both triggers and ceased firing. The noise of the blaster's final shots echoed around us, and the smoke drifted away. I was suddenly aware of a low growling sound coming from my dermas.

''HOLY SHIT PRIME!'' Orianna's voice snapped me back to my surroundings and I turned to face her, both weapons' still aloft before me. ''That…. That was…. AMAZING!'' Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open in awe as she ran up to me. A ripple of both embarrassment and pride washed over me in rapid succession. ''You were a total badass then. The way you just… I mean…'' She was shaking her head and running her hands through her hair as she stared alternatively between me and the targets in the distance.

I gave a low chuckle as I stowed my weapons once more. ''Glad you approve Orianna. I may have gone a little overboard. Guess I needed to vent.''

''No shit!'' She shook her head and smiled up at me. A strange expression on her face. ''Feel better?''

I stood quietly for a moment, considering her question. ''Yes. I do Orianna. Much better.'' As I stared down at the small woman before me, I felt a happiness well up within me I had not felt in an age. My optics shone brightly at her and a smile tugged at the corners of my dermas. ''For several reasons.''

''Well good. I'm glad you feel better Prime. Nothing like letting off a few rounds to help alleviate stress!'' She started to walk towards the targets in the distance. ''Well, guess we should check them out. I mean, only fair to see how accurate YOUR aim was.''

''I can see from here Orianna, I did indeed hit the targets,'' I watched with amusement as she continued her path.

She called out over her shoulder, ''Yeah, well unlike you Prime, I'll need a closer look to confirm that.''

''Are you saying you don't trust me Orianna?'' my teasing tone was back, and my optics shone brightly down at her again. I did indeed feel better when in her presence.

All I heard was her laugh as she broke into a run towards the targets. I simply shook my helm as a massive smile spread across my dermas. I took off after her, reaching her in three short strides, and bending down low as I neared her, I gracefully, and carefully, scooped her up in my servo.

Her screams of both delight and shock elicited a laugh from me as I brought her up before me. ''Hey!'' she giggled as she slapped my metal servo. '''Put me down King Kong!''

I slowly brought my face down towards Orianna raising an optical ridge, ''Does that make you Ann Darrow?''

Orianna's hands stilled, and she gasped in shock. ''You got the reference?''

I chuckled once more as I continued taking large strides towards the targets, shuttering my optics. ''I may have googled it.''

''Cheat!'' She laughed as she squirmed in my servo.

''I prefer the term 'resourceful' Orianna,'' I winked at her again which only made her laugh even more. My spark felt lighter than it had in weeks, and I could not stop the massive grin spreading on my dermas as I looked down at the precious cargo in my servo. This was just the tonic I needed.

Orianna shook her head, ''I'll remember that Prime.'' Glancing around her, Orinna must have noticed how high she was above the ground and began to grab desperately at my servo. ''Woah!'' She closed her eyes tightly. ''I knew there was a reason I was only 5'5'', I HATE heights! Please don't drop me!'' She tried to burrow into my servo.

Once again Orianna's unique way of putting things coaxed a rumble of laughter from my dermas and I brought her towards my chest protectively. ''Never Orianna! I would never allow harm to come to you.''

She opened her eyes at my words, a soft, yet strange expression on her face as she regarded me before she realised we had reached our destination. Squirming around she took in the sight of the targets. ''Well,'' she sighed out loud as she propped her head against her hand. ''I guess it's safe to say you did indeed hit the targets. All of them!''

True enough, every one of the targets before us were riddled with my bullet holes, with multiple kill shots. ''Well, I would say I told you so but…''

''THAT would be rather unbecoming of a Prime,'' she shot back at me.

''Indeed. Very un-prime like,'' my optics continued to fix intently on her.

Orianna sighed out loud. ''Well, do you have any advice for a novice like me so I might one day be able to shoot as well as you?''

I slightly opened my servo, so my palm was flat and Orianna was sitting upon it. I brought it up before my face, so she was mere feet away from me. I was close enough to see the few freckles that were dotted across her cheek bones. Those beautiful dark brown and gold flecked eyes of hers stared intensely into my own azure optics from between long eyelashes. Her lips were slightly parted, and her hair cascaded down her shoulders and around her face. I noted with interest her heart rate had once again increased, adrenaline was coursing through her body, her pupils were slightly dilated, and her breaths were shallow and rapid. I resolved to keep an eye on her and see if these symptoms persisted. /Maybe she was coming down with something?/.

For a moment I simply stared at the fragile being in my servo. Having never been this close to her before, it was somewhat mesmerising. After a spark beat, I blinked my optics and smiled at her. ''Well, Orianna. Make sure you squeeze the trigger in a fluid motion, don't hesitate, or forget to breathe in your case, and most importantly,'' I paused to ensure she heard me.

''Yes Prime?'' she whispered.

''Always stay focused on what you are aiming for. Don't take your eyes off your target.''