Upgrade's Transmetal II internals were in knots as he drove up to the House of the Rising Moon, where he'd been told Stormclaw's team was still running holographic combat simulation. He felt suddenly young, like he was back to being low-class street trash trying to pick up a wealthy girl for a date. It took some effort on his part to remember that he now outranked everyone he passed on the street, that the Chief Engineer's instructions took precendence over those of the team's dark-faced commander. Wonder what's got his gears in a vice, anyway. These traditional types always hate me on sight.
When Upgrade had recieved Oblivion's instructions to not Transmetallize Nightfall, he'd seriously considered breaking the date. He'd just stopped being attracted to obsolete girls. Even...really hot...obsolete girls. He wondered again what in Pit's name he was doing getting involved.
Even as he entered the building.
Down the first hall, in the viewing room, a wall of monitors displayed muliple angles of the current trainee: Alpengiest, who was dealing furious blows to a whole squadron of virtual Maximals. Not bad, for a Low-tech Maxie-wanna-be Fur-for-brains, Upgrade decided. He knocked twice on the edge of the automatic door to get Stormclaw's attention. "Hey, Commander, I'm here to pick up your girl."
Nightfall smirked, shaking her head. At least he was here... She waited for the commander to reply though.
—AF, CB
Scanner pulled out the board, looked up to Silverquick, and began his set-up. The board was three-tier. The pieces...were marble Autobots.
"You've seen this type before, I trust?" Scanner asked. "Three tier? I haven't played the flat type in some time."
"I'm not quite as proficient in three-tier as two-d, but yes, I've seen it. That's quite a nice set; was it a gift?"
"You might say so. It's a relic, at any rate." Having set up one half of the board with Optimus and Elita as King and Queen, he pulled out a very dark Megatron. "Are you uncomfortable playing Decepticons?" He looked Silverquick in the eye as if the response was extremely important.
Silverquick took the proffered Decepticon king. "A little bit, I suppose," he replied. "Having your Autobot ancestors so widely idolized, well... it's only natural I'd prefer them. But as long as your objective is completed, the pawns you use aren't too important; after all, it's just a game, right?"
Scanner noted the hidden question, and dodged. "You can play whichever side you prefer. Just keep in mind that Decepticons always move first."
"That's fine," said Silverquick, and began setting up his pieces. "The others are still debating about what to name the ship; it's rather amusing, actually. I'd like to suggest 'Morituri.' It's from an ancient language, and it means 'we who are about to die.' I guess I just like the sound of the word." Placing the last piece, Silverquick looked back at Scanner. "I'm ready to play."
Scanner looked him over again. "Do I detect a defeatist attitude?" Scanner pushed a pawn forward, mirroring Silverquick's first move. "Why don't you tell me about your reservations?"
"Reservations?" Silverquick stifled a sarcastic chuckle. "Very well. First of all, this 'team,' and I use the term loosely, has no assigned leader. I'm the only one with any particular rank and leadership experience." Silverquick moved a knight. "Also, having a High-O addict on board, and then Transmetallizing him?? Team members are selected for very eclectic reasons, myself included. I have to spend a day requisitioning equipment that I could usually get in a few hours? None of this is even close to standard Maximal operating procedure.
"And then this Jynx bot tries to kidnap Digit, and is babbling about a 'suicide mission'?? Granted, he's clever, but I'd wager a week's worth of energon goodies that someone planted ideas in his head. Transformers just don't appear out of the blue and act like that, at least not in my experience. So yes, I have some reservations. There's obviously something about this mission that someone, if not several someones, want to keep hidden.
"Would I like to know everything? Certainly; I'm a scientist, but also familiar with the military. I know you can't, or won't, tell me everything; slag, you probably won't tell me anything. But at least tell me this: this mission, is it important??"
"Usually, I ask the questions," Scanner responded, pushing another pawn as he spoke. "Kidnap?"
Without waiting for an answer, however, the bat spoke again. "Interesting. I'll have to view the security footage to be sure. Allow me to assure you, Silverquick, that for a high-security mission, filing full equipment requisitions is a hundred-percent standard procedure. Second point: it would NOT BE a top-security mission if 'someone' didn't want to keep information out of the public eye. Third point: you will NOT be the only team member with experience."
"And, final point: yes, it IS important."
Though Scanner watched Silverquick's moves with a practiced eye, it was plain he was not at all concentrating on the game.
Silverquick fiddled with one of the rooks, carved like Bruticus, then put it back and moved the other knight. "It's important; well, that's something. The team will need a leader, though; it would help to at least have the semblance of being a unified team before we depart." He fired a slightly exasperated look at Scanner. "Honestly, sir, I'm glad to serve, I... well, I'd like to know more." Silverquick chuckled to himself. "Curiosity killed the cat-bot, so they say. Or in this case, the fish."
Scanner freed a Wheeljack bishop, and hopped it up to the second level. "We plan to allow the team to choose its own leader. If you'd care to bring up your own experience to them, Lieutenant, maybe you can convince them to back you. If that's what you're getting at."
"Leadership is never an easy burden, although some seem to..." he paused, searching for a diplomatic word, "...carry it better than others. But we do need a leader." Silverquick castled his king, then sat back and stretched.
Scanner's mind switched gears for a moment. Noticing Silverquick was no longer hesitant about his moves, Scanner viewed the plan in his opponent's random access files. A clever player. He devised a countermeasure... I can win in... ten moves.
Or, I can lengthen the game, allow him to eventually win, and ease his mind about a tense situation.
"Maximals choose their leader by secret ballot. I'm not allowed to show any bias." He moved one of his pawns up a tier. "Though, for the record, I'll gladly state that you've already passed the intelligence exam. Let's hope we finish the game before I need to check up on the rest of your team next megacycle. Can I assume I'll see Jynx there?"
"I'd imagine so. Velocity, for some reason, has developed a friendship with him." Silverquick matched Scanner's move with a pawn of his own. His pawns all looked like one of the Decepticon cassettes, either Rumble or Frenzy, he couldn't tell which. Silverquick half expected one of them to transform into its cassette mode for Scanner to listen to later.
"I heard some talk in the lab, before Velocity was brought in," said Silverquick, "about certain robots and their resistances to toxins or chemicals. And I have a feeling the purple clouds we've heard about aren't caused by energon-219 isotopes.
"But, as you said, the mission is important; you did answer that for me. No use, then, for me to engage in idle speculation. Besides, I'm distracting myself from the game, and the least I can do is present you with a challenge."
"Agreed. I'd advise you wait for the briefing aboard the station. All your fears will be put to rest soon."
Though the game lasted nearly the entire megacycle, Scanner had no problem allowing Silverquick to win.
As they walked down the corridor towards the barracks, Silverquick glanced over at Scanner, his face wearing that stoic-as-if-carved-in-nucleotitanium expression. "I enjoyed our game; we'll have to do it again sometime. Just remember," said Silverquick, his voice dropping to a hushed and mildly conspiratorial tone, "some pawns can think for themselves, and don't take well to being cheated, even if they win." Before Scanner could respond, the barracks door hissed open, and Silverquick stepped in quickly, leaving Scanner to the mercy of the other mission members.
—AF, LB
Alpengeist stepped into the holo-training room, pausing for a moment as the doors slid shut with the quiet hiss of well-maintained hydraulics. He stepped to the center of the room, and spoke into the air.
"Computer, initiate training mode alpha-nine."
"Acknowledged," replied the computer in its neutral tenor. "Simulation commencing in five nanoclicks." Alpengeist engaged his wrist-blades, and assumed an 'en garde' stance in anticipation of the impending combat.
"Two, one, simulation active." Five virtual Maximal warriors appeared, brandishing various melee and ranged weapons. With an audio-module-splitting roar, Alpengeist launched himself at the Maximals. His wrist-blades met the closest Maximal's chestplate, carving through the outer layer of flesh and stabbing in through the chest cavity. Alpengeist got a mild shock; he knew by this he'd come close to the spark. He pulled the blades out and grabbed the Maximal in a bear hug, and squeezed. The sound of his opponent's endoskeleton and control linkage shattering echoed through the room. Alpengeist squeezed harder, and the other robot's head popped off. Alpengeist dropped the fractured carcass to the floor, and sought out his next target.
One of the virtual Maximals cut loose with a blast from a laser rifle, aiming for Alpengeist's head. He dodged the blast by transforming into beastmode; the laser burst passed harmlessly over him. Alpengeist charged the Maximal, using his considerable bulk to bowl him over. As the Maximal fell, Alpengeist mauled him with massive clawed forepaws. Fluids and sparks fountained out of the fallen robot. Alpengeist roared again, "TERRORIZE!!", and drew his battleaxe. Other virtual Maximals had appeared, but Alpengeist didn't bother to count them; not consciously, anyway. His warrior instinct would carry him on.
He raised the axe high, and brought it down, smoothly bisecting the Maximal who'd stepped close, thinking to engage Alpengeist with his paired swords. A stroke to the left decapitated another adversary, and swinging behind him caught another in the chest. One Maximal fired his hand pistol, a desperation move. The shots were no more annoying to Alpengeist than a cyber-fly, and he threw the axe, which picked up the Maximal and carried him 10 meters before slamming him against a wall. The robot fell in a broken heap, leaving the axe imbedded in the wall.
The remaining Maximals apparently decided to charge as a group, weapons raised. Alpengeist let them close in, then unleashed a lethal barrage from his chaingun. The chaingun sounded like a swarm of angry hornets as it spat rounds of depleted energon ammo at the onrushing Maximals, cutting them down like overripe wheat. As the gun cycled down, smoke rising from its multiple barrels, Alpengeist let loose with a warcry that echoed through the halls of the citadel. Upgrade, waiting for Stormclaw, glanced back at the monitors to find Alpengeist standing in a pile of shattered virtual Maximals, and shuddered slightly.
"Simulation complete," the computer said.
"Initiate training mode alpha-thirteen," Alpengeist barked, retrieving his axe and settling into his combat stance.
"Acknowledged, simulation commencing in five nanoclicks..."
—LB
When Scanner visited the Maxmial barracks that evening, he was greeted by an exahusted bunch. "Evening, everyone. Worked hard today? I'm sorry I wasn't around to supervise, but I had some...other projects to attend to. No problems, I hope?"
Viracide was pleased Scanner had come. "We're getting closer to naming the ship. Either the 'Beard,' 'Lost Hope,' 'Voyager,' or 'Renegade.'" Viracide then remembered the real problem that happened. "Also some Maximal tried to kidnapped Digit. Velocity will be able to give a better report." Viracide laid back in his bunk and began to read a magazine.
The Transmetal chihuahua blinked stupidly. Him make a report? He giggled nervously and opened his mouth to speak, just as...
Overcoming his initial scare of hearing that voice again, Jynx came out of his shadowy corner, looked at Scanner, and said: "Hey, big boss, missed me?"
Viracide looked up from his magazine to notice Jynx stepping forward. Viracide spoke up, "Or of course you can ask him..."
Goldstreak looked up from his place on the floor in front of the TV. For some reason he felt more comfortable there than in a bed. "No problem. Unless you consider that worm crashing the party a problem. Goldstreak is undecided right now."
Velocity looked between the other bots, then coughed, unsure of what he was to do. He did, however, shoot Goldstreak a glare for calling his friend a "worm." The High-O content in Velocity's mechfluid won against his characteristic lack of courage, and, noticing Scanner looking to him for a response, he decided to make as much of a report as he could.
"Uh, Jynx..y'know, him—" Velocity pointed at the appropriate bot "fired off a shot from another room, then kidnapped Digit. I went off and caught him 'fore he could do anythin' bad. Not like he wanted to do anything bad, 'cuz he surrendered just after," the chihuahua added quickly. "He said some higher up Maximal sent him or...uh, somethin'. I think he can tell you that better than me. And so we've just been hangin' out and stuff." He didn't mention that he himself hadn't taken the obstacle course—he was just as happy not to do so, even with his High-O content.
Scanner took the entire situation in stride. His expression had barely broken when Jynx spoke up; by the time Velocity began his explanation, Scanner's face was back to its characteristic cold and flat. "I see." He held up a single finger, and whispered something into his wrist-radio. He nodded once, and shut off the 'com. "Jynx. If you'd like to come with me back to the Citadel for a while, we'd like to ask you a couple of questions."
"Uh-uh," Jynx replied. "Do I like, have a choice? I mean, are you gonna take me to a place without any, uhmm, 'witnesses'? I prefer you ask those questions here, as these guys know as much as me, and deserve to know more, ya know?"
Velocity laughed nervously as Scanner didn't smite him for his 'report,' but that laugh changed to a strangled squawk as Jynx actually defied a Maximal Higher-Up Bot.
Viracide was still in the dark, he didn't like it at all. Viracide stood up and decided to cash in his chips. "Well, your secrets aren't too safe, I know what's going on! I figured it all out! By myself!" Viracide knew what this could do to him, but he had to know whats going on. And hopefully Scanner wouldn't call his bluff.
The dog sighed with relief. Of course Viracide would know, because he was a Transmetal II, and a pretty smart guy at that! "Hey, great, amigo, now you can 'xplain it to th'rest of us once Jynx leaves," Velocity said brightly, his tail wagging as everything fell into place.
Scanner looked directly at Viracide. For a moment, his left optic twitched, almost imperceptibly. "No. No, you don't." To Velocity: "Sorry...he can't."
"Aheh...Jynx, pal, these bots ain't so bad, one of 'em set you free, right?" Velocity said, not wanting his friend to get in any more trouble. His urge to find out what was what came second to his fear of authority figures. "Just don't try an' cause trouble, huh?" he added to Jynx in a half-whisper. Obviously, Velocity didn't know Jynx too well.
"That not the point." Viracide muttered under his breath. Viracide wanted to go along with Jynx and find out what he knew and maybe when they questioned him they would accedently tell him what's going on. Viracide knew Scanner needed futher convincing. "I know all about Goldstreak and Kitfox and how they're connected!" Actually Viracide had no idea how they were connected, but it was all part of the bluff.
No one said Velocity was a mind-reader, or particularly smart. His green optics widened in fear as his hero, Viracide was about to give out information he so desperately wanted to hear: never mind that he had no idea who Kitfox was. It was a battle of curiosity versus the pure terror of a small mind.
"Eh, you sure we should be hearing this?" he said in a higher-than-normal pitched voice, shooting a glance at the scary bot, Scanner. "Not that I'd object too much..." he added in an even smaller voice.
"No." Scanner was beginning to irritate, ever slightly. "You don't know anything about that, either. In fact you know less than you should. Kitfox is the head of Goldstreak's devlopment project. That is the connection."
This interested Goldstreak. He wondered what Scanner ment by his "Development Project." What where they developing, and why didn't he remember anything about it?
Viracide sat down and looked back up at Scanner. "Sorry, I was only kidding. I just want to know how serious this was." Viracide rested his hand on Velocity's shoulder. "It'll be all right, Squirt."
Velocity grinned over at Viracide. A rather nervous grin, yes, but he had to admire someone who had the bravery to stand up to big scary bots. "Hey, there ain't much a guy like me can do t'change it, y'know," he gestures to his small form. "The head bot there—" he nodded to Scanner— "seems like he ain't gonna be too bad or nuthin'." That cheered him up considerably—if Jynx handled this well, maybe he could stick around. Maybe they'd even let him go on the ship with them! The thought made his tail wag even harder.
"Oh..uh, not like you care much or anythin', but I always liked th'name Renegade..." he said to Viracide conversationally.
One of the Maximal Agents entered the room, and Scanner nodded once. "Jynx. All we want are a few answers, and then you'll be on your way." The car agent stepped forward, but noticing immediately that Jynx was beginning to frighten, Scanner held up a finger. He didn't want to lose the feline to a fight-or-flight instinct while Maximal Security was still outnumbered in the room.
"Who was it who told you the location of this base and this crew?"
After carefully considering his options—making Scanner a lifelong enemy, or making Starscream a lifelong enemy—Jynx decided it would be best to go with the flow and make the person closest to him not an enemy.
But not, of course, without a fight.
"Well now, Mr. Scanner, I might be able to tell ya who it is, but first of all, I'd like to know why ya didn't just use one of yer mind reading lackeys on me, and second of all, I'd like ya to guarantee my safety, ok?"
"Mind reading. I doubt you would come to that conclusion on your own, even if you are a little paranoid." He nodded. "Maximal Security Agents are programmed to scan your surface files to test to see if you are lying. I prefer to get a straight answer when I ask a question. If Kitfox wants to play games with us, then he's just being himself. I can promise your safety if you cooperate, unless you're somehow set on going on the mission."
Velocity's tail stopped its incessant wagging, and his ears drooped. Jynx couldn't come on this mission? Well, it had been a nice thought while it lasted. He sighed, but managed to cast his friend an encouraging smile, just on the off-chance Jynx looked in his direction. His attention was more focused on what Jynx would say than anything else, though.
Viracide knew what to say. "Don't worry, cat; if this was one of those torture-then-dump-you-in-the-sea-with-cement-shoes-when-you-told-him-what-he-wants-to-know kind of bots then he would have already 'insisted' that I go along too. He seems to have a lot of confidence in what we know and what we don't know."
However, Viracide knew he didn't have to be dragged down to interrigation, Scanner gave him enough info here. Viracide started to go over it in his mind.
Kitfox was project leader for Goldstreak; that means Goldstreak is not a normal Maximal. And also he was chosen to be some sort of "partner" to me. Spark power? Well that's what sets me apart; it might be what sets Goldstreak apart. And Kitfox sent Jynx down here. And Kitfox likes to play games... checkers, chess? No, that was not what he was talking about. Maybe he sent Jynx as part of his game. But why didn't Goldstreak do it? There's a missing piece somewhere...
Viracide glanced over at Goldstreak. Viracide knew Goldstreak held that piece.
Goldstreak was a little confused by what was going on here, but he liked the idea of calling the ship Renegade. "Goldstreak likes that name. Anyone else like Renegade?"
Viracide gave a slight smile that a few bots actually liked the name. But now wasn't the time, but what the hey, "Renegade is good huh? I guess we can call it that."
"Goldstreak has another question. We are supposed to vote on a leader, right? Is there any one of us that thinks he would make a good leader? We don't really know each other well enough to make a decision like that, Personally Goldstreak wouldn't mind being leader, though he doesn't really think he has the knowledge needed to make a good leader. Does anyone else want to be the leader of this expedition?"
"TOPIC, please, GENTLEMEN." Scanner was showing a rare loss of temper.
Jynx chuckled. "Well, big guy, ya can gaurantuee my safety, huh?" "Well, knowing what I know about this here mission, Can you gaurantee theirs? I tell you what, I tell you who sent me here, if ya promise to let me come along on this here mission to look after them. I feel kinda responsible for these guys."
Jynx looked at Velocity. He liked the little fella, and it seemed the fella liked him too. That's something he hadn't felt in a long time, friendship. Plus he didn't want to send the pooch out there, as he didn't seem able to make it by himself. He'd feel.... guilty? is that it?
"Plus, you can use my 'expertise in survival.' Face it, you're stuck with me!"
Jynx grinned.
Scanner rubbed his temples. It was a real pity he didn't have the luxury of getting a second opinion, but Magnaboss had already left that morning, and the project was strictly hush-hush on...other accounts.
"Fine. If you're so interested, you can join the group as far as the station. Welcome to open enlistment."
Scanner nodded at his fellow agent, and the agent exited first. "I have a simple solution to our Kitfox problem also. ...He WON'T be calling you."
"You train tomorrow." Scanner left in a huff.
—AF, BB, LA, MdJ
With a sound like escaping steam, the door opened smoothly. Upgrade saw the Predacon Commander's silhouette in a pale light from the ceiling, the various red metal parts glinstering. Stormclaw didn't move as he addressed the newcomer.
"You are here to discuss technical details with Nightfall concerning our stealth ship, is that correct?"
Paradox was walking by, shaded by the dark corridors of the ship. He knew how Upgrade "operated." So he gave a slight smile as he overheard Stormclaw's question. "Like that's all that he's going to do..." he said, then went about his business.
Upgrade coughed in Paradox's direction. "I'll have you know my intentions are technical, gentlemanly, and otherwise boring." He offered Nightfall his hand. "Shall we?"
"Of course." She took his hand, nodding to the others. "Good evening, gentlemen..."
Upgrade's car, like everything he used daily, was one-of-a-kind. Rocket boosters on the back of the sleek black frame looked like a newer edition, and the dashboard was a hysterical mess of controls that only he was certain how to operate. A sticker on the bumper had a Predacon symbol on it, and read, "PAVE THE UNIVERSE."
"Hope you don't mind if I take you out of this gloomy dump and back to the big city," Upgrade said as he hopped over the door and into the seat. "Out-of-touch places give me the creeps."
Nightfall smiled, nodding. "No problem, Upgrade. Not much to do there but train. And I can only take so much. The boys are good at fighting, I prefer being sneakier." She shrugged. "I'm not built for front line. But anyway, the ship is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. This mission is worth it to fly her."
"And already she's flattering me." Upgrade started up, and glanced at Nightfall. "Thanks. I try." He took off. "Your commander seems to REALLY LOVE me, by the way. Any idea what his deal is?"
"I think he was just tweaked when you and Alpengeist got into it. He seems into the whole code and loyalty thing two hundred percent. Alpengeist is one of his, so if there's a fight it's your fault..."
"Doesn't he realize an accident is NEVER the fault of the guy who outranks you? Speakin' of which, your boss says I can't Transmetallize you. I tried."
"Oh? Hmmm... Oh well, at least you didn't tell me ahead of time. The opportunity never came up for me to try it... Thanks for thinking of me though..."
"Thinking of you?" He laughed. Well, she COULD put it that way. "No problem." The hovercar pulled over a wall and into a city block. Upgrade switched gears suddenly, and the wind kicked up all around.
By the time the atmosphere was condusive to conversation again, Upgrade was setting the vehicle down. "So. What you asked for was to hear my long story, right?" He opened the door on Nightfall's side. "But...why don't you go first?"
She smiled. " Not much to tell... I was protoformed right after the big fracas with Unicron... I guess I was a bit of a dissappointment, at the time they wanted big bad fighters, and while I can defend myself, I'm no frontline fighter. They didn't bother putting me through training, though I had OTHER offers from them... I set out on my own, training myself, making my own way. I got by on my looks, and being sneakier and playing dirtier than anyone else." She shrugged. "I don't take pleasure in some of what I've had to do, and what I might have to do, but if it's that or get slagged; guess what, I'm living."
She sat back a bit, smiling. "Eventually your friend heard about me, and I guess I must have impressed him, cause he took me on right away. I've been training with his people for a while now, doing a few smaller missions. Now I'm assigned to this one."
"I know why you're on the mission."
"Oh? I'm guessing if you mention it, I could talk you into telling me..." She smiled at him, leaning closer.
"Mm-hm." He nodded, then lifted her up out of the car, and pushed her up against the nearest wall. A few passers-by looked, but stopped taking notice the moment he spoke, his voice low next to her ear. "It just now occurs to me that this isn't really ABOUT hearing my life story, is it? You're cute, but you're not going to get the file out of me ahead of time. It's not worth losing my JOB over. But if you want to know about the mission, I'll tell you what I think I can get away with. You'll probably find out pretty soon anyway. Deal?"
She looked up at him, smiling as she pressed against him. "Actually, I was interested in hearing about your story... I didn't know you knew anything about it. After all, High Command isn't going to tell you where all your ships are going..." She ran a finger up his side. "I thought you had an interesting story, and maybe had some tidbits about your ship, and just maybe would show a girl a good time... YOU brought it up, bigbot. But I'm up for anything you are...."
He blinked a moment, and swallowed. "Wow. You're good. You're..." He swallowed again... "really good; they TRAIN you ladies in this work? What's the euphamism? 'Creative Subversion,' right?" He took one hand off from around her waist, and put under her chin, looking at her for a moment as if he was trying to see something he hadn't noticed before. "Atmospheric toxins," he finally said. "That's my theory, anyway. And you have resistance."
She smiled. "They do train us in that... But I was telling the truth. Unless I get an advantage otherwise, I don't bother being too sneaky." She looked up into his eyes. "But thanks for the information. I hadn't thought of that..."
He backed off. "Now, come on, and we'll get a bite, because my story IS going to take a while."
Nightfall nodded, closing a bit of the distance between them. "Sounds good... Lead the way, bigbot."
—AF, CB, DN, BB
Krunch stared at the chamber that kept him "on ice" for so long. He didn't have the luxury of a bunk, and this was the only thing available for him in his robot mode.
"Slaggin' Diplomatic Skid-plates! Keeping me off-line until they need me to do their dirty work! I'm more oppressed than the Stupid 'Cons!" he said angrily. Venting his anger, the large Maximal grabbed the chamber in a robotic bear-hug. Straining with every ounce of his strength, he ripped the chamber loose from its foundation and heaved it across the room. Smiling as it smashed into tiny bits, the soldier flexed his servos. Watching the sparks dance along the floor, Krunch realized too late that he just smashed his "bed."
"Well, that's just Prime!" he said, shaking his head. The soldier decided to go back out to the training area, since it was the only other place large enough to accommodate his frame. When he got there, Krunch figured to take in some target practice before shutting down for the night.
Haven't worked my vehicle mode in a while! he thought to himself.
"Computer, activate Target Practice Program Beta-3 and set at highest difficulty! KRUNCH—VEHICLE MODE!!" called out the Maximal. Instantly, Krunch transformed into his vehicle mode, a heavy Battle Tank. The computer sent out several jet planes in rapid succession. The jets were styled after the old Decepticon models. After numerous passes, Krunch was able to disable most of the targets. Since he wasn't perfect, a few got past him. After the drill, he began to feel a bit tired. The tank converted back into robot mode, and he checked his scores.
"Not bad...but I always do better when it's for real!" he told himself. "KRUNCH—BEAST MODE!"
The robot again transformed: this time into his beast mode, a large Anklyosaurus. The metallic dino yawned, walked over by the climbing tower and curled up next to it before powering down for the night.
—JA