The Diego Diaries: Training (320)
FACTOIDS ABOUT BLURR: He was voiced by John Moschitta, Jr. who held the Guinness Book of World Records title as the fastest talker on Earth until the category was eliminated. :D I am blending many universes to create the Blurr in this story. New stuff added today. :D
-0-Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean, Earth
They stood at the obstacle course waiting with barely contained excitement for their training partners for the day, the Lambo twins and Blurr. All of them knew who they were, the twins especially but were getting the 411 from Epps anyway.
"The twins are or were the only twins ever known on Cybertron for their entire history until recently. They are the father of twins themselves. Two of the most amazing little girls I might add," he said with a grin. "They are front line warriors and incredibly lethal to the enemy. Sideswipe has the lighter personality of the two. Sunny is … unimpressed with humanity. By the way, you call him Sunstreaker, not Sunny. Only a few of us get to use that name. He is fine with those of us he knows but the rest? You'll have to earn it by competence. Don't get me wrong. He is semper fi to the superstructure but he has little patience with stupidity or carelessness. Remember that. There are few bots I would go into combat with that I had more trust and respect for than these two.
"They can turn on 70 degree angles which is stupendous to watch let alone experience. Sideswipe can fly for short distances, one of the few Autobots who can and the two of them like to practice what they call 'jet judo'. That is, they like to climb on the backs of Seekers in flight and beat the crap out of them."
The soldiers glanced at each other, then Stepan Sidorov of N.E.S.T. Russia shifted slightly. "Sir, won't they crash?" he asked, saying out loud what the others were thinking.
Epps nodded. "Yes." It was silent a moment, then he continued. "Both of them utilize seven foot energon swords and can transform into a humanoid shape with either foot treads or wheel skates. They are incredibly fast, can maneuver on a dime and frankly, you need to just get out of the way or hang on tight. They do what they do and they are phenomenal at it. They were gladiators in the Games at Kaon on Cybertron and never defeated with the exception of the time Sideswipe lost to Megatron in single combat."
A murmur went through the group. Gerard Fornier, a soldier from N.E.S.T. France spoke for all of them. "Could you tell us more about that, sir?"
Epps smirked. "Both of them were tough mechs among tough mechs back on Cybertron. They were always being recruited by Megatron to join his gladiatorial team but they never did. They were independent. They fought for themselves and Sides had a bout with Megatron himself. He put a lot of dents into Megatron but he was physically outclassed. Sides is 25 feet tall and displaces about 2.9 metric tons of pure lean killing machine. Megatron is 35 feet tall and displaces nearly 4.5 metric tons. Sides took him on anyway. That should tell you about their balls."
The soldiers glanced at each other, then nodded. "I agree," Sidorov replied with a grin. "I think I like these two."
"Welcome to the group," Epps said with a chuckle. "They are parents, Sunstreaker is an amazing artist and Sideswipe is THE martial arts expert in their army. There are many expert martial artists among the Autobots and I am speaking strictly of the formal arts they master. Metallicato which is so lethal its outlawed is among their own forms. Prowl is said to be as great a master of it and Circuit-Su as Master Yokotran who was considered the greatest practitioner of all time. They have a lot of art forms … Choryuken, Circuit-Su, Crystalocution, Rokuhenka, Difussion, Laser Lathi, Tahtib-tron, Tekkaido, Mueikyaku and others. You already know about Jet Judo. I've seen demonstrations of them all and they are incredibly dangerous and effective. Sideswipe is a master at all of them and qualified to teach them to others which he does. He spent a lot of time wandering before reaching Sunstreaker again and along the way perfected what he already knew and learned a lot of others from different alien species he encountered along the way. He's a master teacher and you would do well to pay attention to him. He will show you along with the others how to work among them without getting hurt. Remember, we tend to be support in most battles unless the configuration requires us to take the lead. Do not assume it just because its happening. They're very good at assessing and configuring plans on the fly."
Everyone nodded.
"The other Autobot today will be Blurr. No one alive is as fast as Blurr. He can run faster than the speed of sound at speeds exceeding 800 miles per hour. That is more than a mile per five seconds." He paused to let that sink in, a factoid that delighted him to express. Then Epps continued. "The fastest Autobot used to be Bluestreak, the bond mate of the twins. Now its Blurr who was a racing champion on Cybertron. He's a good bot, this one. I like him a lot. He can have a bit of an ego but he's genuine and good. He can reverse the polarity in his opponents rendering them immobile. He has the ability to emit low level energy that flattens out the road bumps and holes ahead of him allowing him to run on surfaces he smooths himself. While you and I would flip over on a pot hole-filled road, he skims along on a rutted surface he smooths himself. Neat trick. New York City needs him."
Laughter and nods greeted that.
"He has wheel skates and peds interchangeable but then a lot of them do. That makes him lethal and fast in car or robotic form. He can also steal speed from others adding to his own. That is part of why he has never been defeated in races on Cybertron in the history of the Games. His fame among his own kind is hard to express. Imagine all of the sports heroes of all time everywhere here rolled into one and you have Blurr. He has to be careful when he moves because he's so fast sometimes he crashes into things because his off-the-mark time is beyond belief.
"He owns a legendary bar on Cybertron, Maccadam's Old Oil House which has strange attributes I don't pretend to understand. I was told it exists in space outside the time continuum or some such shit even though it was located on a street corner in Iacon. You're going to hear and see things that challenge your world view and sense of things. I have. If they say his bar exists outside of time, I believe them. He has a replica of it in the Polyhex Business Plaza in Autobot City that rules," Epps said as he felt the tread of heavy feet coming their way. Turning, he smirked slightly as he moved to stand behind his men. Their expressions as they watched new bots approach them were a perk of this sort of newbie training.
They had arrived, checked in at the Embassy to trade slag and gossip, then turned to walk to the obstacle course for the training of the n00bs. Ironhide had briefed them that the new group were serious soldiers who wanted to learn and had serious respect for them and what they could do. That was enough for them. Pausing along the way to chat with soldiers and civilians including Aisha Mohammed and two new femmes from Philadelphia who had just been assigned, they continued onward, their optics never leaving the twenty soldiers waiting expectantly at the course.
When they reached Epps they paused and nodded. "Epps. What's up?" Sideswipe said with a smirk.
"Newbies, Sides. They need some learnin'," he said with a grin.
"Came to the right place," Sideswipe said with a ferocious smile. They stood together looking down at the soldiers, considering them, filing them into a new data file in their processor's N.E.S.T. soldier data sector. Sideswipe knelt leaning in closer. "I'm Sideswipe. I'm an instructor and front liner in the Autobot Army. The yellow bot is my brother, Sunstreaker. The blue bot is Blurr. If you do what we tell you and understand that you are support, not first responder, you will live. If any one of you are cowboys, you will probably be dead in the first fire fight. The first thing you have to understand is your place in the order of battle. I am sure Epps told you." He glanced sideways at his favorite soldier. Epps nodded. "I did."
Sideswipe stood up again. "Good."
"Personally, I don't give a frag about fighting with humans. You get in the slagging way. Lennox, Epps and Graham are the only humans I give a frag about in combat but I will defend you all. Everyone of you. Just don't get in the way," Sunstreaker said as Sideswipe, Blurr and Epps chuckled.
"He's just that way," Blurr said kneeling. He considered the humans. "We will defend you just like we defend everyone on this rock. What Sunny is saying is simple. Try not to get into the fighting with a Cybertronian unless asked. You are slagging outmatched. We don't want to have to scrap what's left of you into a baggie."
"That's what I already told them, Blurr," Sunstreaker said with a flash of fake umbrage.
Blurr snorted and rose to his peds. "Let's light this candle."
Epps nodded and the soldiers stepped back to see what three of the fastest, toughest, baddest, most highly lethal soldiers of this or any other world could do when they were cut loose. It was mind blowing. By the time they demonstrated their basic moves and possibilities it was time to begin the training that would allow the humans to interact and fight beside the Cybertronians and emerge alive at the end. It would be exhausting, comprehensive and humbling.
For the humans.
-0-On the way
They reached the point in space where it was incumbent upon the intruders to send a message to Prime of their request for parlay and their peaceful for now intentions. They did. Sitting back, Shield waited for the response which he knew would be swift. He had fought against Optimus Prime numerous times and found him a dangerous and intelligent foe. Too many of the Decepticons underestimated or downgraded the threat of Prime. He didn't. He never did anyone he met or fought. That was stupid.
And suicidal.
His group captain sitting in the brig should have seen it coming. But he didn't because he suffered from the same mental disability ... assuming.
"Captain, we have a reply."
Shield nodded to his communications officer. "Put it through," he said calmly.
"This is Optimus Prime. We have received your message and will agree to a meet up at the coordinates contained at the end of this message. We are going to come heavily armed and will blow you to the Pit at the least provocation. If you come here to stay you will have to agree to stringent rules and surrender your faction completely. Optimus Prime out."
The coordinates and time was then received and Shield considered them. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," he said quietly. Then he rose and with the other ship captains in tow walked to the hangar deck and the runabout that would take them to a large asteroid nearby.
-0-At Ops Center
Prowl stood by the door waiting for the others to come so they could leave for the meet up. He was going as was Starscream, Rainmaker, Ironhide, Blackjack, Alor and Prime. They would be going on Omega with Kappa and Alpha joining them. A flight of 200 Seekers would be the frosting on the cake. Prime turned from the central command table walking with his officers to the door. They joined Prowl and exited the building catching up to Alpha Trion who stood with a priest, Chevron on the flight line. They gathered together and walked to Omega who stood waiting for them. Alpha and Kappa were already air borne.
They climbed on and the hatch closed, the master vessel rising almost immediately. Gathering with his siblings, Omega led the group into the maelstrom of the space bridge and they disappeared almost immediately.
-0-On the other side
They flew out swiftly forming up into a battle configuration immediately. Omega flanked by Alpha and Kappa ranged before the massive planetary fragment supplemented by a cloud of Seekers. They had arrayed at the moment of arrival making the maximum point of their power. It would not be lost on the group that waited for them on the fragment nearby.
Shield flanked by his companion captains and a small contingent of soldiers watched the space bridge flare and an array of firepower he had not seen even the Decepticons field in a long time appear out of nowhere. He considered what that meant.
First, their space bridge capabilities could mean that they could appear and disappear all over the place without giving away anything. Secondly, the firepower before them was vast and given the variety in front of them merely the tip of the iceberg he was sure. It was clear that they had made a show but he was also clear that they could make a lot more of them if necessary. The Seekers had rallied to Prime.
Megatron was an idiot.
One of the big ships began to descend toward them landing nearby on the surface of the planetoid. The dust settled around it as the hatch slid back. The ramp came down and it was silent a moment. Shield and his mechs stood silently watching, then Starscream appeared in the doorway. He walked down followed by a big Seeker that even Shield knew was Rainmaker. Behind them came Prowl, Blackjack, Alor and finally Prime. If that wasn't enough, behind that group came Alpha Trion and what was clearly a Temple priest.
The group formed around Prime and he stepped forward pausing a short distance from Shield. They stood quietly watching the others, then Shield moved to face them himself. They stood considering each other, then Shield nodded. :Prime. I am Shield:
Prime nodded. :I am here to listen:
Shield considered that. :We are an independent group. The Empire is unraveling without Megatron to enforce solidarity. We are looking for a new home. We are here to parlay with you about that eventuality. We are here seeking terms:
Prime nodded. :They're simple. You have to renounce your faction, give both personal and professional oaths to the Matrix and settle peacefully among us. If you don't agree to that, you have to leave. You will also have to understand that any reneging on the simple compliance that we demand will lead to your incarceration or death. We have prisons for those who disagree with us and a mausoleum for those who decide to break their oath to the Matrix:
Shield nodded. :I understand. What options are available for us if we surrender and become part of the city? I am aware that you have a city and amenities … opportunities:
Prime considered his remarks, understanding that the information they were feeding Paragon had either been made available to this group or had as leaked signal made its way here. Either manner was good for him. :You would be required to find work that you wanted to do, work that was honorable. You would be given housing and opportunity to go to school including university to become whatever you decide to learn. If you remain in the army you would have to wear the Autobrand and serve under my rule. You would also become a member of the association of former Decepticons who would help you assimilate as well as monitor your activities until you prove yourself to us. The former Decepticons of our colony are very vigilant and they make sure that the newcomers understand how things work. They also police their ranks.:
Shield nodded. :I see you brought others with you. I am assuming they have something to say:
:You would be assuming correctly: Starscream said stepping closer. He was imposing, his colors brilliant and his affect that of old. :You know I am Starscream:
Shield nodded. :I know you, Commander Starscream:
:Good. Then you know what I was to the faction and my loyalty. I was a scientist of some note on Cybertron and a leader of my people. I was Megatron's second. Yet he threw me over even as he did you. My people are now hunted and the only sanctuary left is the colony we call home now. Our flights fly for Cybertron and the only real leader of our people that lives, Optimus Prime himself. Our infants go to school together with grounders and Autobots and our people work at what they want instead of what they are told to do. There are no castes allowed. There is unity and solidarity. There are bonds and families being made. All of us are one: He looked behind him. :You know the bot behind me:
Shield nodded. :I do. Hail, Rainmaker, Lord of the Skies:
Rainmaker nodded. :You know the salutations. What do you know about futility?:
:I am here to learn about it, Elder: Shield replied smoothly.
:Then allow me to help you: Rainmaker said. :The faction is lead by a tyrant who puts death orders to entire segments of the army that displease him. What displeasure that is, no one knows. It can be anything. Our families were our death sentence, that and the courage of Starscream. We came to the only other sanctuary that exists for our kind, the colony of the Prime. We will defend it to the last of our kind. There are thousands of us there. You would do well to make a very considered decision. I have called all of Seekerkin to me. They will come and you know it. No one wishes to be outcast among the Seekerkin. You will not defeat us, not in your wildest dreams:
Alpha Trion nodded. :The Elder speaks truth. You would do well to decide what side of this chasm that you belong to. This enterprise is Primus blessed:
Chevron, a sweet expression on his face nodded. :You must understand the truth to that statement, Shield. The Pantheon have blessed our new home restoring to the possession of the Prime and our people the AllSpark, the Matrix Flame and the Well of All Sparks. They are now housed in the Temple Restored. Our efforts have the support of The One. You would do well to reflect upon that and the futility of opposing us:
Shield stared at the priest for a moment, then looked at Prime. :I recognize the other bots you brought with you. General Blackjack and Commander Alor I know: he said nodding to the pair. :I also know Prowl. I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how intriguing an opponent Paragon finds you, Commander Prowl:
Prowl considered that, then nodded slightly. :Then you are aware that he has never won an encounter between us yet:
:So I have heard: Shield said. :I can only hazard a guess that you are Ironhide. Wherever Prime seems to be one can expect you:
Ironhide nodded. :You would be right. That includes the battlefield, slaggers:
Shield permitted a slight grin. :Same old Ironhide I can see: He considered the group before him. :You have nothing to say, Prime?:
:I told you the conditions. You have to surrender and be an asset. The Matrix will exact the punishment you will receive if you fail to honor your word. There is really little else to say:
Shield considered that a moment, then nodded. :We would like to settle on your world. I suppose a separate colony is out of the question even considering the size of your planet?:
:It is. Entirely: Prime replied.
Shield nodded. :Then I would like a moment to discuss the decision with my comrades:
Prime nodded, then all of the Decepticons moved away to discuss things internally.
-0-TBC 06-02-13