The Diego Diaries: Zoom (dd7 305)
=0=At the point of impact
Prime sat on the ground rebooting a few routines as a herd of infants with little scanners stood around him pointing them at every facet of his body including his aft. He would have laughed loudly but for the sweetness and seriousness of the kids. The other mech sat up, too, marveling at the level of doctors they must have on Mars. They even had kid doctors. It would be fully explained on the after game shows to everyone who the kids were. There would be representative groups of the same all over Cybertron by morning.
The miracle of social media strikes again.
Ratchet stood over the scene smirking at Prime as they blazed a hilarious conversation between them. Standing on either side of him, Springer and Drift watched with amusement. The kids consulted, checked each other's data, scanned again, tapped this and that, held wrists, checked audials with their little hand held flashlights, plugged in and got the straight scoop, then huddled.
All of them.
The refs who were watching both this train wreck, the one with Bumblebee and a slagging match between Maelstrom and someone else as big were having their own hilarious conversation as well off line.
It was going to be one of those kind of games.
The kids broke their huddle, then walked to Ratchet with deeply serious expressions. Coros glanced at the others, then Ratchet. "Commander, we find that the two are fully rebooted and ready to play, though they might need an after game diagnostic."
"CHAMPIONS!" Ratchet said as he spread his arms wide and turned in a circle with a dazzling smile. "CHAMPIONS! AMIRITE!?"
The crowd wailed their approval, stamping their peds as the kids gathered their gear and did the Cybertronian version of blushes. They watched with concern as both big mechs stood, then stretched.
"Thank you. I feel much better," Prime said.
"Uh, you kids are seriously cute," the other big mech, Billiard, said.
They smiled at both, then Slim stepped forward. She was slim, tiny and adorable as only micro mini-cons could be. "We want to help our people in every way we can."
The big mech stared at her, then grinned at Prime. "So cute."
"Okay, infants. Well done. Motor back to your posts now," Ratchet said. As they filed back with a highly amused Springer and Drift, he scanned both. "You're good to go. I have to check on Bee." With that, he jogged off to the other pile up downfield.
Prime and the big mech, Billiard glanced at Maelstrom and a huge mech slagging the crap out of each other nearby. It was quiet a moment.
"Your mech has good moves."
Prime nodded. "His brother is Turmoil."
Billiard stared at the big mech. "Too bad."
"For you," Prime said with a big grin.
Billiard grinned, too. "Probably."
As they were commiserating, Maelstrom was landing good blows. So was the other mech, Plug. Blows that could topple buildings were landed as Elita and Arcee stood on either side of a very seriously proud Chromia. "My mech can land them."
Arcee chuckled. "He can."
They watched for about five minutes, then both mechs stopped the fight almost at the same moment. They fist bumped, then everyone walked to their benches like what had just happened was 'normal'.
=0=ESPN HQ for the MCA broadcast worldwide
"I will never understand this game." -a sportscaster
"Me, either." -another sportscaster
"I'm keeping a list of questions for Jazz and Blaster." -third sportscaster
First two nod.
"Good." -both of them
=0=Prime and the Boys/Grrls
The offense walked off as the defense walked on. Blackjack led them to the line and they took their places. The other side looked ready to dance so everyone was on their toes. The ball was tossed and the two lines collided. The Brigadier center got the ball, then plowed forward. He did so with Blackjack gripping his chassis. As he did, a turtle formed and everyone gripped anything they could to get to the ball carrier who was in the center.
Winnie who was on the edge hopped up on top and ran toward the center searching for the center. She was lean, mean and determined. The Crater Comets had kick ass femmes on their team, it would be noted the next orn everywhere, especially in the pirate strongholds. She made it to the center, slipped and disappeared into the churning mass of fists, peds and clacking teeth seeking a target.
^..^
"Frag," Ratchet said. "There goes Winnie. I pity the fool."
Prowl smirked. "Me, too."
^..^
Prime and the offense which consisted of himself, Hard Drive, Arcee, Elita, Chromia, Jetta, Maelstrom, Bumblebee, Hot Rod and Smokey the Younger watched the carnage with tension as the hulking pile lurched this way and that. Being they were on the ground, they could see the fists and biting that was going on inside out of view of most of the cameras. It was brutal.
The defense which was led by Ultra Magnus consisted of Ironhide, Blackjack, Raptor who was on the sidelines at the moment, Nitro, Payload, Scar, Bulkhead, Twin Twist, Sandstorm, Devcon and Winnie were slagging it out good. Given that the leagues both agreed to having a 'reserve list' of players that wouldn't play regularly but could replace someone injured, everyone was that much farther ahead. At this rate, they would all be in traction by the third game. Steiner, Flint and Kup were on the reserve list.
Appa Ratchet volunteered but was given the title of 'ball boy' by his adoring grandson. Appa Ratchet was probably still laughing about it somewhere in his processor even now.
Every now and again, a helm would pop up, glance around, then disappear. A push would happen then and as it did for the last time, the teams went out of bounds and crashed into the wall nearby. Abuse and encouragement rained down upon them as they broke up. It would take two short fights before everyone walked to the refs to get the word. That Winnie would be laying on the ground curled around the ball made short work of who got the ins.
She would.
Everyone bitched at the refs who stood together with arms crossed and peds tapping with irritation. After a thorough exploration of both their family trees, everyone got ready for an ins.
Two big mechs from the Brigadiers hooted and hollered at Winnie who gazed at them with a calm expression. They were windmilling in front of her, catcalling in the usual footballer manner. Apparently, femme ballers were a new thing for most of them.
Winnie considered the slaggers, then threw the ball hard at the face of one. He got clanged and the ball bounced off back to Winnie. He was stilled, then fell backward. She turned to the other and set to throw but that mech jumped back to prepare to get plowed. As he did she tossed the ball lightly to Nitro.
He caught it and began to run like the wind.
Everyone on both teams minus the guy with a dented face ran after him. Being a huge Seeker, he ran as fast as they could, which was slagging fast. Behind him, the Brigadiers began to catch up. He passed it to Payload who was shit on the flats. Mini-con trucks were tough and could carry an aircraft carrier but jogging? Nah.
Both teams turned like a flock of pheasants heading for Payload who was building up a head of steam. Behind him ran Devcon to whom he threw the ball. Dev pivoted and ran the other way. For a moment a couple of Brigadiers hesitated, presumably having been former targets of the bounty hunter in their probably misguided youths before lighting their afterburners.
Dev ran and twisted, leaned and pivoted. He was astonishingly agile and a thing of beauty. He then threw the ball to Sandstorm who was open.
Sandy caught it and ran toward the goal. Ahead of him were a number of Brigadiers who angled to take him out. He leaped and tossed the ball to Scar who was almost as big as Nitro and slower in the 'get up and go' like all big mechs were. Even Ultra Magnus who was no slouch was no opponent of a speedster like Devcon. Sandy ran and was knocked out of bounds.
Standing on the sidelines with a mech between them, Raptor, Hot Rod and Smokey watched and shouted like everyone else. The two kids only talked when necessary and worked their plays with only a few extra fists and bumps against the other.
Raptor who found both of them immature but hilarious made a point of being nearby when they were not involved in plays. These slaggers were either going to punch each other out or frag in the middle of the field.
He was psychic, Our Raptor.
^..^
The ins went for the Comets. Sandy threw the ball to Ultra Magnus who by sheer size was able to plant two overly eager Brigadiers before passing the ball to Winnie. She burst into flames and motored onward toward the goal of the Enemy™ for hopefully a second score.
Everyone who had two working legs sped after her. This was going to be one fast game.
Faster and faster some of the backs for Nova Cronum went and they managed to run Winnie off sides. They lined up for the ins but no one stood too close. The dented mech was on top of a tower with his servos in front of his face.
Winnie grinned, tossed the ball to Scar and it was on.
The grind kept going back and forth until in a turtle the ball was stolen and Nova ran it in for a score. Goalie Ironhide and defensive backs Blackjack and Bulkhead were valiant but the Brigadier with the ball had several mechs to put help him put the team on the board.
The defense walked off as the offense went on. Among the players were Smokey and Hot Rod. They were at opposite sides of the line as everyone got into place.
Billiard grinned at Prime and Prime grinned back.
The ball was thrown, Prime got it and pegged it to Hot Rod like the most graceful quarterback in the history of quarterbacks.
Hot Rod who startled to get it hoofed toward the goal leading with his fist. The right wing of the line hoofed it, too, angling to catch up with him. That included Smokey.
Dev who was in the middle saw him and angled as well. He could see a brick wall of infuriated mechs heading for Roddy and Roddy wasn't passing.
Frag Roddy.
^..^
"What's with the frown?"
[Frown] "He isn't passing. PASS, FRAGGER!"
[Grin] "YES! PASS FRAGGER!"
Prowl felt the curdle come up his central strut as he heard his ada behind him.
Behind him with his grandparents.
Styre, Stealth, Shadow and Zenith.
Those guys.
His father.
His little brother.
Several of the priests who were invited by Venture.
Those guys, too.
Ratchet grinned, then howled with laughter. As he did Hot Rod was bounced out of bounds. "Here we go," he said as he watched Smokey slow to an irritated walk toward the sidelines for the ins.
^..^
Everyone walked to the sideline to get ready for an ins. Roddy stood with the ball as everyone either made a tower or was open. The Brigadiers were really jonesing for the ball, waving and catcalling Roddy's aft hard.
He frowned at them, then saw Smokey was open. He didn't throw to Smokey. He threw to Prime. Prime caught the ball through a mass of arms grabbing for it, then turned to run after Arcee who had it from him. The teams blasted forward including Hot Rod. Hot Rod sped past Smokey in time to be tripped. He flew forward, then rolled over and over while a smirking Smokey jogged past him to catch up with the game.
Hot Rod lay on the ground for a moment, then sat up with fury. He rose and began to run. He was going to catch up with the game, too.
Mostly.
=0=TBC 6-17-2020. 6-17-2020
Notes tomorrow. SIGH! Its almost 24 hours of light here. I have to set an alarm. :D:D:D
Take care out there. I think about all of you every day. Know you're loved.