On the Range
On the Range
"Hey Hound, you tough enough to join us?" Brawn challenged; the gleam of anticipation in his brilliant optics.
Hound just shrugged. He'd just gotten off shift from his second job, but wasn't on the schedule at the Ark this shift. So, if it was fun – why not? "What are you mechs' up to?" he asked.
Trailbreaker grinned as he downed some more energon. "BLM had some positions open on this season's round-up. Gonna be some good off-roadin' action!" He revved his engines in emphasis.
Glancing Red Alert's way, Brawn chuckled; "But you gotta be tough to really be a Cowboy out on the range! Not like that city slicker stuff at Rodeos!"
Anger gleamed in the Security Officer's optics, since it was obvious just who Brawn was dissing by that comment. "You go and get your intakes clogged, I'll keep my optics peeled for Decepticons!" with that, he stormed off.
The three of them couldn't help but chuckle, for they weren't about to let Red Alert ever live that rodeo down! The vision of him covered in dust and hoof prints; would forever be etched in their memory banks. Granted, the fact that Sideswipe had taken a digital and snuck it on Teletraan 1 as a 'screen saver' – had also greatly added to the red mech's embarrassment.
"So you in?" Brawn asked, raising an optic ridge to Hound.
Hound nodded, it did sound like fun! "Sure, so what'll we be doing?"
"Oh, we'll be following behind the Cowboys, bringing up the stragglers," Trailbreaker explained.
Brawn took his last swig of energon. "Yep, they bring in the choppers to locate the Mustangs, then the Cowboys on horses, four wheelers and 4X4's – bring them on in."
This was really sounding like some fun! Roads could be so – boring! "So when are we heading out?" the Scout asked.
Brawn transformed, "Right now. Let's roll out boys!"
Round 'em Up
"We-hew! Man this is the life!" Josh yelled. Hanging onto Trailbreaker's frame, the wrangler kept himself from flying out of the mech as they careened after the Mustang herd.
Trailbreaker had to agree, this was indeed much more exciting than showing tourists the Grand Canyon! "Hold on!" he yelled as they topped another rise and plummeted down the other side. His struts squealed in protest.
"I can't believe the speed those horses are maintaining!" Hound yelled over the sound of galloping hooves. He felt like he was barely able to keep up, but the sheer challenge of it was making his fluids boil in excitement!
Brawn shot up the rise beside him, shocks squeaking in protest as he landed heavily on the other side. "Yep, for flesh creatures – they're pretty tough!"
"The herd's splitting! Swing to the right, we'll head 'em off!" Josh yelled, holding on as Trailbreaker almost flipped by turning too fast.
"We'll back ya up!" Brawn yelled, as both he and Hound turned and followed Trailbreaker and the wrangler.
Swinging fast around the group of Mustangs that were making a break for it, Hound had an idea. "Hey, what if I made them think they were blocked? Would they turn?"
"Sure, but how'r ya gonna do that?" Josh asked.
Trailbreaker chuckled, "He's the master of illusions!"
Not far in front of the escaping group, a mountain seemed to appear out of nowhere. Its sheer cliff faces, unclimbable. Predictably, the herd changed direction – unfortunately, they decided to head straight towards the three Autobots in a full, panicked gallop!
"Slag it! They're not going to wreck us like Red Alert are they?" Trailbreaker yelled in dismay. Mental images of the three of them with shattered windows and hoof printed hoods – briefly flew through his meta.
"Nah, these are totally wild. They're going to go for the easiest way out." Josh seemed to be relatively unconcerned. "You two transform, wave your arms and hoot an holler!"
Brawn and Hound transformed, and did just what the wrangler told them to do. Between the apparent mountainside, and the terrifying loud mechs – the Mustangs again turned. This time they headed straight back toward the main group.
Transforming back to alt mode, Brawn huffed with pride at their work; "Can't see why Red Alert couldn't move these animals. This is a breeze!" he bragged.
Rejoining the rest of the wranglers, the Autobots again followed the herd. Soon, another group tried to break free of the round-up. This time, they consisted of mares and foals.
Again, the Autobot team went after them. Following the directions of wrangler Josh; unfortunately, this group of runaways decided to jump into a deep wash. They turned right, and galloped along it as fast as their hooves could carry them.
"No problem!" Trailbreaker yelled. His tires went airborne as he just drove over the side of the deep wash. Shocks strained as he landed heavily in the bottom. "I'll block them here, just bring 'em back this way!" He slid to a stop and transformed, ready to act like an insane mech when the others turned the runaways back towards him.
Brawn and Hound took off after the runaways. Driving along the top of the deep gully, they coordinated their 'diversion' tactics. Taking his cue, Hound jumped the entire gully and ended up bouncing heavily on the other side. Continuing on, the two Autobots passed the runaways. Driving a bit further, Brawn transformed and jumped into the gully.
"I'll block them here, you keep them from going up that side!" he yelled to them.
Sure enough, as the herd came galloping round the turn and saw the terrifying specter of a shouting, waving mech – they slid to a stop. Wheeling around, they bolted the opposite direction, with Brawn following them in alt mode again.
The six mares and five foals, headed straight for Trailbreaker. Although he was yelling and waving his arms, he also put up a force field – just in case. The mares slid to a terrified stop, running into each other in their panic.
Three fell, as the others leaped up the one clear bank – and took off. One mare struggled up, rearing in terror, desperate to get back with the group. She leaped over the transforming Brawn and took off back up the gully. Without asking Josh, Brawn turned, transformed and went after her.
He followed the mare until she suddenly fell. Transforming, he studied the situation. There was a deep, narrow washout in the middle of the big gully. It was about five feet deep and three feet wide. The mare had stumbled, and fallen into the washout. She was now stuck, upside down, with her hooves flailing.
Hound came up to him; they were without human advice, since Trailbreaker and Josh were busy herding the others back towards the main group.
"Hmmm, don't think that's a good position for that Mustang," Hound mumbled as he circled the trapped horse and considered the predicament.
Brawn set one of his feet down in the washout, keeping a decent distance from the flailing legs, but trying to decide if he could get a hand under her. "If you can grab her legs and keep her from kicking me, I can lift her out."
"Sounds good, hold on" Hound got on his knees. Edging close to the stuck horse from the side, he clumsily caught all of her legs. "Ok, I think I've got them. We've just got to be careful, these legs are skinny things!"
Nodding, Brawn set his other foot down in front of him and leaned forward. Carefully, he slid a hand under the horse's body. "Ready?"
"Yep."
"Here goes," he began to lift the horse up. His linkages and hydraulics strained against the load. She was a lot heavier than he had thought!
Kneeling down as best he could in the tight spot, he got his other hand under her. It was a very awkward position, and hard to get any leverage, but the two Autobots slowly worked the horse out of the washout.
As soon as her side hit the ground, the horse struggled in Hound's grasp. Letting her go, he offered his hand to Brawn.
Taking the offered hand, Brawn tried to get out of the wash. He couldn't, for both his legs were thoroughly wedged. Hound pulled with all of his might, to no avail. Brawn was one hundred percent – STUCK!
"Well, this isn't good. You're stuck," his friend said. Then Hound scratched his head as he considered how they could possibly get Brawn out of this mess.
Sighing in disgust, Brawn nodded for Hound to go on and rejoin the roundup. "Go on, I'll radio Hoist for a pull."
Not really wanting to leave his friend, but realizing he wasn't actually in danger of anything more than embarrassment, Hound nodded. "I guess, just stay put and we'll come back and get ya."
Watching the retreating form of Hound, Brawn sighed with disgust as he radioed the Ark to ask for assistance. Of course it had to be Red Alert that was on-shift right now! The darned Security officer was going to have a field day with this one!
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Note: Might be a couple of weeks before I update this one again.. Kind've run out of 'Murphy's law' ideas - temporarily.. But the second I come up with some more brainstorms.. I'll start working on this story again..
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