17.Dec.06

Training Day

A partial daydream

By: Starath (starathbot@geekgrok.com )

Author’s Note:  This is part of a daydream I had some time ago.  The scenes were so clear I decided to write them down.  I don’t think I’ll continue this but the characters here might be seen again someday.  Keep in mind my daydreams don’t follow Beast Wars canon, so there is a different context for this story.  Let me know what you think, enjoy!

Scene setup:  Colony Omicron’s Training Dome, day.  Starath is under Depth Charge’s care after leaving the Beast Wars.  He survived his battle with Rampage (which happened completely different from canon) and is trying to start over.  Starath is a Maximal who had nowhere else to go.  She is also Christine from this world caught in the realm of an alternate universe, which is why she uses human slang.  A job she has applied for requires she go through strength and combat training (it’s a public security-type job). She’s signed up for a sword class too because that’s something she has confidence in.  It’s the first day of that sword class, and she’s standing at the end of the training arena with seven other trainees.   

            Starath had been in the Training Dome before, when she visited it for the first time with Depth Charge.  Then she was distracted by the fighting in the arena and the huge crowds.  But now the place was nearly empty, almost ghostlike, with only herself and seven others waiting by the arena wall and a couple bored bots sitting in the stands. This place was impossibly HUGE.  Almost like a football stadium, only without the funny fake grass. Far off she could hear the clank of metal on metal and shuddered.  The weight room was nearby.  She wanted to stay as far away as possible until she had to visit there again.  Her talk with Bruiser the previous day hadn’t been very reassuring. 

            She cautiously glanced at her fellow trainees.  They were all mechs.  She liked to think that didn’t bother her.  It did.  They were all bigger than her except for one.  But the shortest one made up for his height with solid mass.  A few stood alone like her, away from a core group of three.  Starath stared at the back of one, mildly amused.  He looked like a short Starscream with a funny paintjob.  He was just like her toy at home, only not five inches tall. His colors were white, blue and dark purple.  When he half-turned to laugh at something his buddy said, she could see Maximal symbols detailed boldly where she expected Decepticon ones.  He caught her glance and she quickly looked away.  The hushed conversation between the short Starscream and his friends became quieter until all three erupted with laughter.  Starath turned her gaze to the floor, shoving away certain thoughts. They aren’t talking about me.  Don’t assume anything.

            The class was to begin at 1300 hours, but as the time approached and passed, everyone was getting impatient.  Starath could hear grumbles of “I’m wasting my time” and “I’m outta here in two cycles…”  She kept any thoughts to herself.  She didn’t mind waiting.  Her teachers were late to class all the time back in school.  Only she had no idea who her teacher would be here, and each passing moment only allowed nervousness to grow.  What if it was some huge overbearing grouch?  Would he single her out?  What if he was mean?  Or would her teacher be a she, someone she could never be like? No, don’t think like that.  You’ve been through the Beast Wars, for bootin’ up cold. I can handle myself well.  I was taught by—

Footsteps crunched on the rocky arena floor, bringing Starath’s head up.  Her optics snapped wide.

--Dinobot? You’re KIDDING me. 

            All grumblings immediately ceased as the Maximal warrior strode in front of a hastily assembled line of his new trainees.  He looked them each over carefully, his sharp red optics demanding each mech straighten himself up. They did.  Starath was already standing as tall as she possibly could.  When his gaze fell on her at the end of the line, he gave a barely discernible nod to her.  She made a fleeting smile in reply.  Dinobot turned on his heel and stood before all of them with arms tightly across his chest.

“Greetings trainees.  My name is Dinobot and I will be your instructor for this course.  It is three megacycles two days out of each week for 5 weeks.  In addition to attending class I expect you to be practicing eight megacycles out of class every week.  You will be using each class time fully.  Do not to expect to leave early or have any more than three ten-cycle breaks.  You will be working hard at all times.  Anyone who is a slacker or not serious about learning the sword trade, leave now.” 

No one moved, although someone gulped.  Looking slightly pleased, Dinobot pulled out a thin file reader and began to take role call.  Starath made sure to keep track of who was who, especially the young Starscream look-a-like. 

“Skyscream.”

He took a step forward. “Here sir!”

Starath could hardly believe her audios.  His voice was gravelly and shrill, just like the bot he resembled.

“Starath.”

How odd…

“Starath!”

“Eee!”  She jumped.  “Oh, er, here, sir.” 

Amid chuckles Starath moved back into line, embarrassed.  Frowning, Dinobot moved on.  He marked off a name whose owner was not present and stowed the file reader away.  Looking everyone over sternly, he said,

“First I want to test each one of your sword wielding skills.  You will each battle me, one-on-one for your evaluation.  The rest of you are expected to watch.  Find a place in the stands where you can exit quickly when it’s your turn.  But first we need an order of challengers.  Would anyone like to be first….?”

There were a couple hushed “Heck no!” replies, but other than that, no one said anything.  Starath’s spark started to pound.  Somehow she just knew…

            “Instructor Dinobot, may I make a suggestion?”    Skyscream’s voice cut through the silence. 

            “Affirmative.” 

            “Well, I was just thinking…” he stepped out of line and came to the end of the column, pausing before Starath.  Her spark leapt into her throat when she heard quiet laughter.  “… That we ought to be gentlemen and let the lady go first.” 

The way he said it instantly sparked Starath’s temper.  When she met his red optics she saw challenge there.  She stiffened, forcing a smile.  “That’s very nice of you to say.”

Dinobot watched the exchange and immediately recognized that he had an arrogant one in his class.  Well, this boy was certainly in for a surprise…

“Starath?”  He queried.

Shoving the Maximal Seeker out of her way, she marched forward.  She didn’t miss his look of surprise.  “Sure.  It’ll be just like old times.” 

“…‘Old times’?”  She heard the phrase echoed from behind.    

The match only lasted five minutes, but in those five minutes the other trainees suddenly found respect for the little femme.  In truth, they hadn’t expected much from her, thinking she was just some girl who wanted to take up swordplay as a hobby.  They knew that Dinobot was a master at the art.  What they didn’t know was that Starath had already been his student once before.  They matched each other blow for blow, although Dinobot pulled a few fast moves that caught her by surprise.  She yelped when his green optic-lasers bounced off her sword’s energy blade.

“Keep your eyes to yourself!”  She cried playfully, dodging sideways to come in on his left. 

Dinobot’s sword rang off hers, sticking them together, and he snarled with a grin, “Just trying to keep you in top form!”

“You did back then too!  At least you’re not throwing rocks!”  Starath managed to shove his blade from hers, releasing the moment-held lock.

“I could if you like!” Dinobot stepped back and brought his sword down, barely breathing hard.  “Evaluation complete, Starath.  You’ve remembered much.” 

 The bright green blade of her energy sword disappeared when she flicked the button hidden in the hilt.  “Thanks.  I hope to continue what we started in the Beast Wars, though.”              

“Understandable.”  Dinobot dismissed her with a wave and called out, “Whoever wishes to be next, engage me now!”

Starath made her way back to the arena edge, wiping her forehead in a habitual move that would have removed sweat if there had been any.  The short but heavy-built mech passed by her on his way out, and he paused for a second.

“Nice moves.  You’ve managed to shut Skyscream up.”

“I did?”  she blinked, confused, having forgotten the Maximal seeker who set her up to be the first evaluation.  Glancing up into the stands, she saw him glowering at her.  “Oh.  Thanks, um…” 

“Mudtracks.  See ya in five cycles.”  He hurried out to the center of the field.

She found a seat four spaces in from the end of a lower row and sat down, shutting off her optics to try and settle herself down.  It’d been awhile since she’d worked that hard.  If she’d been back in the Beast Wars that match would have been nothing.  How easily it was to get out of shape, even as a robot! 

A shadow fell over her and she felt the breeze of someone standing too close.  Her optics snapped online and she found herself looking up at an athletic black mech with a face like a jackal’s. His ears pricked forward and then flashed back as he took a step away.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologized.

Starath sat up straighter, immediately suspicious.  She’d seen this one talking to Skyscream.  She put on a little smile anyway.  “It’s okay, I’m jumpy.  Anubis, right?”

“That’s me.”  His face broke into a puppy-like grin with too many sharp teeth.  “Hey, um, me and the guys, we were just wondering… Did we hear you right?  You were a part of the Beast Wars?”

“Uh huh.” 

His golden optics widened.  “Really?  Wow.  So you must be one of the veterans.  Don’t you follow that big blue guy around?” 

“That’s Depth Charge, yes. He’s… kinda like my adopted dad.  Since I was born on Earth.”  Starath strained to keep her smile.  There was more truth to that statement than most would ever suspect.

Anubis nodded.  “Oh.  So that’s why you have a beast mode.  The only reason why I have one is ‘cause my parents liked Earthen mythology.”

“I can see that.”  She giggled.  “It’s good to see another beast mode.” 

“Heh, yeah.”  Anubis turned at his name being impatiently called.  He grinned again with too many sharp teeth and patted Starath’s shoulder.  “I gotta get back to the boys.  Nice talking to you.” 

She watched him effortlessly hop up the bench seating to where Skyscream stood with his other lackey.  A not-so-secret conference began and Starath faced forwards again, slouching down to get comfortable.  Just as I thought.  A scout.   

Roughly an hour later Dinobot finished evaluating his new trainees.  Astonishingly he hardly looked winded from the continuous fighting, although Starath could tell by the way he spoke that he was a little tired.  Not enough to make any difference should he have to fight for real, of course.  Sitting on top of the arena wall above her fellow trainees, she listened to the Maximal warrior’s conclusions.

“I am pleased to see that most of you have already had some swordplay experience.  You are fairly distributed across skill levels, ranging from advanced to novice.  Do not worry if you think you are a novice, because you are here to learn.  Those of you with experience are here to learn more.  Now, I will pair each of you up with another trainee.  I have chosen a partner for everyone that will best match your skill level and specializations.  In this way you will be moderately equal in ability but you will still be able to learn from each other.  After I announce your partner you may spread out in the arena and get to know each other through a practice round.  If there are inconsistencies and you wish another training partner, let me know.”  Dinobot paused.  “But I rarely make mistakes.” 

The trainees shifted anxiously.  Starath crossed her legs at the ankle and swayed forward and back on the wall, looking down at her fellow trainees, wondering who she would be paired up with.  Her gaze fell on the back of Skyscream and glanced hopefully at Dinobot.  Would he pair her up with the only other flier?  I really, really hope not…

“Anubis, your partner will be Mudtracks.” 

The two mechs broke rank and moved into the arena.

“Greyquell, you will be with Orbit.” 

A brooding silver bot left with a bouncy green one.  Starath’s spark kicked up speed.  

“Harness, you and—”

Pick me pick me!

“—Firewall are together.”

Her spark hit her knees.  With a sigh she slid from the walltop and landed with a thump.

“Starath, that leaves you and Skyscream.”

The two of them looked at each other, one having to look up, one not minding to glance down.  Neither were very happy, if their fake smiles said anything at all.  Dinobot crossed his arms, already aware he was asking for trouble with this. 

“Since you two can fly go ahead and fight while airborne if you so choose, but be careful of the other trainees.  They don’t need any spark attacks from sudden appearances of either of you.  Go on now, you’re wasting time.”

Skyscream gave a mock bow, sweeping his hand towards the center of the arena.  “After you, Miss Starath.” 

Starath replied with a mock curtsy, heading off in the direction he indicated.  “Thank you, Mister Skyscream.”  Turning, she tapped a foot to the floor and arose, hovering backwards.  “I hope you’re ready to dance.” 

“Always,” he assured her, and strolled passed her wearing an arrogant grin.

Dinobot watched them go, sure he’d made the right choice, but hoping he wasn’t going to pay for it.          

Weaving between the pairs of trainees already in combat Starath made her way to the back of the arena, hoping to make it difficult for Skyscream to follow.  She was prepared to wait impatiently for him when she glanced ahead—only to see him already standing in the empty space. Her mouth momentarily gaped before she snapped it shut.  She hadn’t seen him get ahead of her… how could he have possibly gotten there first? He must have flown over my head, she told herself.  Thoroughly annoyed she approached him, wishing for all the world that she could wipe that smug look off his face.  He knew he’d surprised her.

“Glad you could make it, Starath,” he jeered.  Now that they were away from Dinobot he didn’t bother to hide any dislike he had of her.  Ordinarily she would have been hurt, since she barely knew him and done him no wrong… but she didn’t like him either.

“Cut the crap and let’s get moving.” 

He shrugged. “If you insist.”  Reaching behind him, he withdrew a heavy silver handle and flicked on the energy blade.  His red optics peered dangerously over glowing orange beam.  “But I warn you, I won’t go easy on you.”

Unimpressed, Starath pulled her own sword out and flashed the blade on.  “I’ve heard worse from giant purple dinosaurs.  I’m not worried.” 

From the start she had eagerly anticipated this match even though she hadn’t wanted to be paired up with Skyscream.  She’d never fought another flier before in swordplay.  The fact that he carried an energy sword like hers was an added bonus.  He was going to be a challenge.  She couldn’t help giving an insane grin that nearly scared Skyscream’s smug look off his face.  He rolled his shoulders and settled into fighting stance, gritting his teeth.  This upstart femme would learn not to mess with him.  And yet, despite his instant hatred towards anyone new, he felt the excitement of the coming battle.  After watching her fight Dinobot a megacycle ago he knew he was going to enjoy fighting this one…. 

 CRAAASH—ZAAAAP!

The sound of two energy blades smashing together crackled like lightning, lighting up the arena.  The other trainees froze in mid-pose, startled by the sudden roar.  Two blurs danced through the air, erupting in a flash of light when their swords struck. The roof creaked when one fighter bounced off the metal and pushed away from it for leverage. Those few bots in the stands headed for cover when dents magically appeared in the benches, followed by more flashes of light.  The pair flew back to the arena floor, dashing off the walls to meet again with twin battle cries. At the front of the arena, Dinobot ground his teeth together.  He should have known those two would show off, intentional or not.  Impressing the enemy was always a flashy business. 

Skyscream fended off another downstroke, throwing Starath backwards.  He charged forwards to catch her off-guard.  She skidded in a half-circle and launched herself at him.  The meeting of orange on green sparked off another flash when they struck at full force.  In a half-moment Starath ducked under, getting behind his sword.  She didn’t strike with her own, instead butting him in the jaw with her sword handle.  He swore violently and punched her away.  They separated, panting. 

“Hope… I’m not… disappointing you,” Starath managed.  She rubbed at the dent in her cheek.

“Hardly,” Skyscream shot back, adjusting his chin.  “I didn’t think you’d get serious so soon.  You and Dinobot certainly put up a nice staged battle.”

“STAGED?”  She echoed, tightening her grip on the sword hilt.  “It wasn’t staged!”

“What ELSE could it have been?  You admitted you knew each other.  Simple:  You make him look good, he makes you look good.  Both earn some… false respect.” 

“You are full of SLAG!  Dinobot is one of the best sword-players ever, he doesn’t NEED ‘false respect’!  He has his honor to uphold, you moron!”  

Skyscream grinned unpleasantly, pleased to learn it was easy to get a rise out of her.  “Honor is for fools and weaklings.  Everyone knows that.” 

“No it’s NOT!” 

He was about to continue when Starath surged forward to attack head-on.  Hardly surprised, his blade swept sideways and back, blocking a barrage of thrusts. 

“Tsk tsk!  So easy to anger!  It must be that…” 

His orange sword shot down, pinning her blade in the dirt.  As she struggled to remove it, he leaned down to finish his statement.  “…beast mode.” 

She swore something he’d never heard before.  Taking a chance, she flicked the sword off, then on after pulling the handle up, nearly taking his head off.  The green energy blade sat above his shoulder, lighting up his face with an eerie glow.

“And you have a problem with that… WHY?”  She growled. 

He ducked sideways, out of her reach and stood there, looking bored.  “Everyone knows they’re inferior…”

“You use a lot of WRONG generalizations, pal.  What the hell is your problem?  Is THAT why you hate me when we’ve only known each other for two hours?”

He shrugged.  “Among other reasons.”

“You are so FULL of it!” 

She went at him again, only to find nothing when she landed where he once stood.  Confused, she stared at his empty footprints in the dirt, and shut her optics.  He’s gotten to my temper.  Just CALM DOWN. He must be way faster than me. 

A whirr breezed through her audios.  Spinning, she blocked off the orange blade coming from her right.  Skyscream smirked at her.

“Very good.  Imagine what you’ll learn from me, Starath!”

She booted him in the midsection.  When he doubled over, she jumped back.

“And to think, Screamer, you just might learn something from me too!”

He suddenly straightened up, fury etched in his face.  “Don’t call me that!”

It was her turn to smirk.  “This coming from a Starscream look-a-like.” 

In an instant he was right in her face.  Starath yelped, startled, and backpedaled in time to prevent a vicious swipe from his sword from cutting her in two.  She dodged away, trying to regain ground, and headed for the open air.  Without warning Skyscream was again in her face, growling.  Panicking, she cried out and changed directions, pleading for her jets to go as fast as they could.  He appeared again, and again, first in front, then from behind, and finally his blade came up and she hit it, locking their hilts together.  She struggled to remain standing under his greater strength.

“Do NOT mention that name to ME!”  He bellowed, “I am a MAXIMAL!  Not a Predacon, not a Decepticon, and NOT in ANY WAY like that TRAITOR!  You hear me girl??” 

Her knees shook with tension and her left foot slid sideways to try and gain leverage.  When she was sure she couldn’t have held herself up any longer Skyscream’s angry red optics widened.  A pointed silver sword pressed itself against his neck, forcing him to lean back.

“Stand down NOW!”  Dinobot commanded.

Starath collapsed to the ground when the orange blade released hers.  Trembling, she dropped her sword and whined, trying very hard not to cry and not to think about what could have happened if Dinobot hadn’t intervened.  Skyscream rubbed his throat, looking from the shaking femme to Dinobot and started to explain himself.  His new instructor didn’t give him a chance. 

“Do you realize you almost KILLED her, trainee Skyscream? And why did you not inform me that you are a teleporter?  It was REQUIRED that you did so!”

“I didn’t—”

“Do not THINK of lying to me, boy.  I WATCHED you!  Everyone did!” 

Skyscream sputtered, but after receiving a glare, drooped and fell silent.  Dinobot took the opportunity to kneel down to Starath.

“Anything injured?”

She hastily wiped salt-water droplets off her face and sniffled.  “Nothing but my dignity. He scared the bloody shit out of me!” 

Skyscream bristled.  “You angered me.  You deserved it.”

Dinobot helped her up and looked the young mech in the optic.  “There is no honor in intimidating your enemies in such a manner.  I will trust you not to do it again.  Go to the locker rooms and settle yourselves down, both of you.  Talk to me after class.  Understood?”

“Yeah.” Starath gave her training partner a glare before marching away.  Skyscream crossed his arms and stubbornly kept his mouth shut.  Dinobot growled and yanked on the bot’s chestplate, bringing them nose-to-nose.

“Are we CLEAR?”

“Yes, sir,” he ground out.  

Starath avoided everyone on her way to the femme locker room.  Ignoring any attempts to pat her shoulder and words like “Man, you fight tough” she disappeared from the arena. She was very near a breaking point and desperately needed to cry.  In private, though, since a “normal” Transformer didn’t cry.  She felt far from normal at the moment, and really, really just wanted to go home.  Her adventures as a robot were becoming far too much.  Surviving the Beast Wars was fun enough. Deep in tormented thoughts of home, she bumped into a solid mass in the hallway she’d wandered into.  Looking up she met the warm red optics of her adopted father. 

“You okay, Kid?”  asked Depth Charge. 

She sobbed and threw herself at him, finally allowing herself to cry. 

A megacycle later Depth Charge walked with Starath out to the arena floor.  The Training Dome was now empty, save for Dinobot and Skyscream, who stood waiting for her. Starath slipped her small hand out of Depth Charge’s palm.

“Could you stay here please?”  She asked him quietly.

Depth Charge leaned on the doorway, nodding. “No problem. You ought to give him a good holler for scaring you like that.”

“I will if Dinobot already hasn’t.” Steeling herself with shaky confidence, she approached the two mechs waiting for her in the arena.  She forced a smile as she sidled up beside Skyscream.

“Trainee Starath present as you wanted.”

“Suck up.”  muttered Skyscream.

Dinobot silenced him with a glare.  “I have asked Skyscream to tell me what happened. From what I understand, Starath, you insulted him.  Is this true?”

Her obedient demeanor vanished.  “Yeah, but how was I to know he’d go nuts over it?”

“I told you not to refer to me by that name!” snapped Skyscream.

“Oh yeah?  Did you tell him you insulted me first?”

“I did not—”

Dinobot started to speak, only to have Starath cut him off.

“You big fat LIAR!  You did TOO!  But I did nothing worth scaring me half to death over!”

“You couldn’t possibly know.”  Skyscream shrugged. “Perhaps you won’t admit I’m a better fighter than you…?”

“HA!  You couldn’t find the sky if it fell on you!”

Dinobot smacked his face with a disgusted snort.  This “discussion” was starting to sound familiar.

“Look who’s talking, the one with the dinosaur beast mode…”

“Oh shut it, you little rat!”

Yes, this was very familiar.

“Pre-evolved bird-brain!”

“Seeker of garbage!”

“What did you call me??”

“SILENCE!”

Starath jumped with a squeak and Skyscream clung to the nearest object.  He let go of Starath when she stomped on his foot.  Dinobot snarled at them both, and the young Transformers straightened up.  Narrowing his optics, Dinobot let out an exasperated breath.

“It is clear that you two are not going to get along.  I’m not sure why you feel the need to take this training course since you both have admirable sword skills.  However, I will not drop you from this class because I understand there is always a chance to learn and improve.  I realize this is a stupid question, but do either of you wish to have a new training partner?”

The answer was immediate:  “Yes!”

The reply was just as quick:  “Well tough.”

Skyscream and Starath stared at him.  Before either could complain, Dinobot held his clawed hand up, silencing them.

“You two are the only fliers in this class.  Your skills are the best among the others, so it wouldn’t be fair to have either of you two training with anyone else.  Your… enthusiasm would overwhelm anyone else as well.  For the duration of this class you are training partners, like it or not, and if I hear any arguments henceforth you BOTH will have stadium cleaning duty for a MONTH.  Am I understood?”

They gulped together.  “Quite.”

“Good.  Now, I will see the both of you for class two days from now.  In that timeframe I suggest you two become… acquainted. I don’t care if you still hate each other’s guts but I would like to have SOME peace of mind knowing I can at least trust you won’t kill each other—or anyone else—next time.  Understood?”

They were already giving each other dirty looks, but managed a smile anyway. “Yes sir.”

Dinobot let out a weary sigh.  “Good.  I’ll see you then.  Dismissed.”  He turned and left, muttering under his breath.  “I now know what Primal felt like… ugh…”

Starath watched him go before looking up at Skyscream.  She had to ease her conscience, even if a little.  “Look, I didn’t know a comment like that would get to you so badly.  I’m sorry.”  She offered her hand for a shake. He glanced at it, then turned away.

“Whatever.  I’m outta here.  Bye, Starath.”  He waved over his shoulder and disappeared, his teleportation ability taking him to places unknown.

She blinked, sure he hadn’t vanished, but he really had.  Her pride hurt from the dismissal of her apology, but at least she’d said it.  It was his choice to still be the jerk.  Depth Charge came up behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder.

“Hey kid, ready to go home?”

She sighed.  “Yeah.  It’s been a long day.”