Outskirts of San Francisco, California

 

     Northern California still struggles to maintain its natural beauty, even though it is teeming with people and fighting with all the problems of a modern society. For the most part, the hilly green city of San Francisco succeeds in that venture. Still, you get the sense of vast overcrowding pushing at the seams of this place, where no privacy can truly be afforded. Even the outskirts and suburbs overflow with people.

 

Contents:

Springer

Autobot City Base Defense Perimeter

Autobot City <AC>

Parking Lot

Obvious exits:

Fly <Up> leads to Sky Above San Francisco.

West <W> leads to Uptown San Francisco.

Out <O> leads to California.

 

Springer is striding along the roads some distance from San Francisco, peering through built-in electrobinoculars at the skyline of the city. It sure looked beautiful from a distance... how unfortunate it was, he thought, that it was so common for it to be caught in this civil war. "If we're even fighting the war anymore," he mumbles to himself, shaking his head. "I can't believe this treaty is legitimate."

 

Hook is flying west, presumably to New Crystal City. Funny thing is, he never told anybody on the Decepticon side that he was taking a vacation. Uh-oh, when he gets back, Scrapper is really gonna chew him out majorly. Because that's what happens. Scrapper and Mixmaster always make use of every oppertunity they get to annoy Hook to distraction. Which is why he's flying over San Fransisco, instead of doing work. Wait a beat...that can't be his brother? "Oy, that you Scrap-Eek!" Why did Hook 'eek'? Because that isn't Scrapper, it's Springer!

 

Springer peers upwards as a metallic voice echos above him, then beside him... then grimaces as he realizes the source of the voice, one hand reaching back over his shoulder to grip the handle of his Light Saber. "You'd better explain yourself fast," he growls, lowering himself into a defensive position. "This is no place for Decepticons to be, truce or no truce...!"

 

Vrrrrrm!

 

Now, hear that? It's the well-oiled sound of a Datsun's engine, signalling the arrival of none other than Smokescreen! The stock car skids around a handy corner (likely breaking a great many terran laws in the process) to pop up into the Diversionary Tactician. Reinforcements?

 

Smokescreen surveys the situation for a few moments, crossing his arms over his chest.

 

Hook takes a step backward. Oy, today is NOT is cycle. Fisrt, he meets Grimlock, which actually didn't go as bad as it could have gone. But Springer looks about ready to chop Hook in half. "Yeesh, I thought you maybe my brother! You're over-reactiong, Autobot." Hook takes another step back. Is that a rock under his foot. Well, it's something of the sort. WHUMP! Hook just tripped backward and fell on his aft. Not a good position to be in when you have a hostile Autobot with a sword and a bad attitude in front of you.

 

Springer narrows his optics at the clumsy Decepticon. If memory serves, this one is a -surgeon-... hardly a threat on his own. With five brothers, of course... "Care to explain what you're doing, a stone's throw from a hornet nest of Autobots?" He notes the telltale engine hum of Smokescreen, but pays it no heed for the moment... that Autobot could handle himself, and the triple-changer prefered to keep the Constructicon directly in his sights.

 

Smokescreen steps forward, standing beside Springer, his expression a combination of disdain and suspiscion. He does his best to look intimidating; but next to the big green form of Springer, it's not that easy. "Yes, Hook." Smokescreen produces no weapons himself- but there ARE those rockets on his shoulders...and isn't Springer enough to worry about? "Do tell us what you're doing here..."

 

Hook gets up quickly, rather embarrassed to have tripped backwards. He settles into a defensive position similar to the green Autobot's own posture. Hook may not be a warrior, but he isn't oblivious. Then he hears Smokescreen...oh, great, this is perfect. Two Autobot soldiers against a Decepticon scientist...Maybe he should use the broadband to call for help. Eh, nah. That would reveal the fact that Hook isn't in New Crystal City. "I was on my way back to New Crystal City. I saw you, Autobot," Here he points at Springer, "And I thought you were one of my brothers. Does that satisfy you two?"

 

Springer peers at Hook. The Decepticon faction earned its name well... was it a trick? A ruse? He stared into Hook's optics, grimacing... then backed off, easing into a far more casual pose... and laughed. Loudly. "If you're mistaking me for Constructicons, then I've got a Terran proverb you might be able to make use of. 'Physician, heal thyself.'" Offering Hook a rather menacing grin, he points in the Constructicon's face. "Might wanna get those optics checked out, you know."

 

Smokescreen shakes his head at the explaination. "Springer, Springer- my friend; are you going to believe this RUSE?" Smokescreen steps forward, then points at Hook. "We are currently looking at arguably one of the most skilled Decepticons walking around these days. I mean, he can place a circuitboard to within five thousandths of a micron. Do you REALLY think he would mistake your dashing form for his craven brother? No..."

 

Smokescreen points at Hook, without no small amount of florish. "What we are looking at is a -SPY-."

 

Hook involuntarily jerks his head back as Springer first laughs at him, then jabs his finger into his face. "Hey, watch it, you fool. You might poke my optics out!" Hook grumbles angerly. "Retard..." Oops, did he say that aloud? Hope Springer didn't hear, otherwise Hook might have a reluctant date with a Light Saber. Then..."Me a spy? You must be overenergized or something. I am no spy. If the Decepticons wanted to spy on you, we would have sent a spy. And if you will care to think back, I was heading -towards- New Crystal City."

 

Springer swats hook's hand out of his face. "Nah. The Decepticons wouldn't have sent THIS thing as a spy. He's hardly a threat on his own. In fact, I'd wager that he actually -did- mistake me for a Constructicon." Crossing his arms in front of him, he chuckles, "He must really be -that- dumb outside of his lab."

 

Smokescreen shakes his head, allowing Springer to manhandle Hook- for now, at the leas. Oh no, Smokey's got other plans. "Aha! But that's what they WANT you to think! They want us to think that they'd send a real spy, like Ravage- therefore we would dismiss him as just a stupid passer-by! However, this is not the case!" He crosses his arms, smirking. "Yet, the Decepticons are currently negotiating for peace- an obvious ploy. Hook is here not only as a spy, but also here to hurt our public relations!"

 

Hook's optics flash at the insult. Why that slagging retard. "Excuse me, you did not just say that? You said that. You are a retard, as my brothers would say. Hear me? Re-tard." He turns to Smokescreen. "And you are a retard too." He growls angerly. "I think you both are stupid, bit-brained lugnuts.. And what's more? Aww, get out of my way, hoppy." That's Springer, btw. Hook tries to run past Springer, shoving him (maybe) out of the way

Hook succeeds in grasping Springer, throwing it off-balance.

 

Springer stumbles backwards for a moment as the significantly smaller Constructicon shoulders past him. Rather amused at the Decepticon's gumption, he laughs again, then turns to face Hook. "Big words from a small robot," he grins, crossing his arms. "A diminutive construction drone without the intelligence to use words bigger than two syllables." Tapping Smokescreen on the arm, he chuckles, "Kind of sad, huh?"

 

Smokescreen blinks as Hook shoves Springer, then grins as this doesn't result in an out and out brawl. Yet, at the least. And so, he holds off on pulling out a gun...for now. "We'll not fall victim to your violent scheme, Decepticon! I imagine that your lord and commander, Galvatron, shan't be too happy with this news of you attempting to break his hard earned truce!" Ah, drop the G word. That always rattled 'em up.

 

Hook growls at the two Autobots. When the truce thing iss removed, those two will end up on a scrap pile somewhere. "Curse you into the deepest recesses of the Pit, the both of you." At the mention of Galvatron, Hook doesn't even flince. "He won't have news of attempting to break a truce because that's NOT what I am doing, you slagging retard!" Hook flies into the sky as fast as possible. Why? Because you never want a enemy at you back.

 

Springer waves at Hook behind his back. "See you later, 'Brother,'" he laughs, calling upwards. "Watch out for large Autobots with swords... they've been masquerading as Decepticons lately!" Shaking his head, he sighs, "What a doofus."

 

Smokescreen remains put, watching Hook fly off, grinning as he does so. And even no shots fired! The diversionary tactician lets fly with a laugh. "Next time, tell them to send a real spy! Like, say, Tantrum!" Smokescreen shakes his head, then looks up at Springer. "You know, I think I could get used to this 'Truce' buisness...