January 17th, 2003 ~Blitzwing(D), Whiplash(D), Onslaught(D), Steelwind(A), Enfilade(D) Starfire(U), Ghost(D) ================================= Decepticon ================================= Message: 10/6 Posted Author Smile your on Candid camera Thu Jan 16 Blitzwing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Emerging from a physical, yet up beat training session... Blitzwing whose rarely at a lose for words is met by a pair of fellow Con grunt mechs.) Mech 1: Heyo Blitz, you nervous about this thing with Lash? Mech 2: Yea she's had bigger mechs then you for snacks. BW: Oh yea, just terrified. Let me explain something to you boys...Enfilade, Shockwave, and Onslaught lay down the law over their divisions and the empire. They are good at what they do, and that's well and dandy. But...the arena is my domain. I am king of that castle...dont you boys forget it. Mech 1: What about Moonlight, arent you concerned for her safety? BW: Whiplash and her pal have to get through me to even touch Moonlight...I'm a big boy, so they can take their shots at me, but they aint getting to her. Mech 2; What about those rumors with her? Bw: Eh? No comment. Mech 1: What if you lose? BW: Hahahahaa....funny one. Seriously? She's a first rate warrior, and there's no shame in losing to her. But that aint going to happen. Mech 2: Well whats your strategy? BW: It's complicated...I think I'll use the old beat her until she can't get up. Mech 1: Your confifdent arent ya? Bw: I trust in myself...because if you can't put your faith in yourself who can ya put your faith in. 'Scuse me boys... I gotta go find Mppnlight and go over strategy with her. (He walks out of view.) Mech 1: Strategy is what they call that now? (They share a laugh and shut off the recorder Blitz didnt even notice.) ============================================================================== Darkmount - Launch Platform Forcibly hewn out of the side of a raised mountain, this sturdily constructed platform is large enough to accommodate several ships and still allow enough room for the arriving and departing patrols of Decepticon seekers. Crafted of solidly forged chunks of Durillium, it has been made to withstand the tests of time and battles. Around the edges of the platform are various anti-aircraft batteries and entrenched watch posts for defense drones, should anyone ever be foolish enough to attempt an attack from the air, or intrepid enough to risk approaching the Decepticon stronghold from the nearly impossible climb below. Blitzwing [Robot] [D] Obvious Exits: -U- Up leads to Sky Above Tarn -D- Down leads to Darkmount - Elevator Shaft -Blitzwing walks out onto the platform, oozing machismo. -Moonlight is standing at the edge of the platform, looking to the horizon. A bit of a breeze causes her yellow plume to sway back and forth, but she is other wise still. -Blitzwing walks up behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders. "You okay?" -Moonlight glances back over her shoulder with a smile (not a grin). "Yeah. I'm still alive aren't I?" The answer doesn't have her usual dose of cockiness added to it...it's merely a statement. -Blitzwing leans his forehead on the back of hers gently, just resting there. "You amaze me...here you are, about to get into a combat sitution you never have seen anything like, just for me. Your one of a kind." -Moonlight gives a little shrug and a half-grin Blitzwing's way. "Lots of people thing 'cause I'm a smuggler I don't have my own codes of right and wrong. That isn't true. Loyalty's always been a big thing for me. You're my friend and I like to thing of myself as someone who sticks by her friends." -Blitzwing grins to her. "I appreciate that. But please don't let yourself get hurt out there. I would never be able to forgive myself." -Moonlight turns to face Blitzwing properly. "Well, I can't just stand there and watch, but I'll try not to do anything /too/ daring." -Blitzwing paws her hat down over her face. "Aha! Now your lost in a seas of darkness!" -Moonlight shoves the hat back so she can see again. "Shhhhhh, don't give Onslaught any ideas." -Blitzwing looks to her, chuckling. "You plan on wearing the ht during the fight?" -Moonlight shrugs. "Sure, why not?" -Blitzwing shakes his head. "Dont wantcha to lose another hat." -Moonlight grins. "But it certainly has enough gaudiness to attract /some/ attention. If I can't fight well, I might as well look flashy." -Blitzwing looks at her in /that/ way. "Who you kiddin' girl? You always look flashy." -Moonlight chuckles. "Yes, but I'm thinking I should add a little extra oumph to my appearances. It might even trick the viewers into believing I'm not so bad." -Blitzwing chuckles. "Make sure you put on this little extra show next time we get alone." He grins. -Moonlight laughs as she checks the time. "Well, our appointment is soon. I have a few things to finish up with. I'll meet you at the arena, okay?" -Blitzwing clutches his chest, chuckling. "I'm hurt. See you there." -Moonlight reaches up and gives Blitzwing a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck...and save the hurting for the arena." -Blitzwing kisses her on the check and says "You just stay behind me and youll be fine." He walks away, supremely confident. -Moonlight heads for the elevator and then to her barracks room...which has actually been neat the last little while. Colorful could be a word to describe this barracks room. The walls are covered of many pictures of many different planets (none are on Cybertron)...most of them in bars and containing the same mech over and over. The room is littered with odds and ends and couldn't truly be called neat, though there appears to be some sort of purpose to all the clutter. There's a recharge bed, but unless it's being used, it is also most likely covered in junk. There are probably many little well-hidden hidey holes in this room, but anyone interested in them would have to both wade through the junk and possess a keen set of optics. It has temporarily been straighted up due to a punishment given to Moonlight and Turmoil by Onslaught. -Moonlight finishes up with her last minute preparations. In honor of the event, Moonlight has gone all out on her appearances. She's all polished up nice and shiney, taking away her usual matte look. Very sleek and streamline, she doesn't look like a combatant. Her base color is now a glossy black. Little bits of dark blues, greens, and purples adorn her, but unless the light is bright around here. Her usual hat has been temporarily replaced by a large, dark blue, wide-brimmed affair that has a rather loud, yellow plume on it. From under the rim of this hat peers intense green optics that often have a hint of mischief in them. Her head (if you ever see her without her hat on) is bald, but has all sorts of strange patterns carved into the surface giving her a rather unique look. Covering her usual dark blue blades is a real cape this time, made of a very shiney pale blue material that is reminiscent of her name. Around her neck is a rather odd talisman: a bit of credit with that has a hole drilled into it and is strung on thin but sturdy wire. Every movement she makes is graceful and seems to have some sort of purpose, as though it was all part of some master plan. On her right thigh is a fancy sort of holster holding a gun. Dangling off her left hip is a sword, something she generally doesn't carry. Usually she goes about life with a certain smirking half-smile on her face, an expression that show confidence and a touch of arrogance. ~Just above her gun on her thigh is a shiney Decepticon symbol.~ -Moonlight gives herself a final look over and appraisal before leaving her barracks room once more and heading for the arena in Dead End. Karkas Arena - Arena Floor Many millennia ago, this vast, circular arena was home to the some of the most famous gladitorial games on Cybertron. The most skilled warriors would be pitted against each other in death matches for the enjoyment of wealthy spectators on the balcony overlooking the arena. Lesser warriors, still honing their skills, would only fight to incapacitating injury or first strike, depending on their skill level. In recent times, this ancient place of death has become active again, if the remains of Cybertronians scattered about are any evidence. Byline [Mecha-Suit] [U] Blitzwing [Robot] [D] Gladiator Rules Obvious Exits: -O- Out leads to Dead End - North Strip -U- Up leads to Karkas Arena - Spectator's Balcony -Whiplash slips unobtrusively into the arena, keeping to the shadows, and keeping low to the ground in her MedusaSaur mode. First she wants to get the lay of the land, so to speak, before she reveals her presence. She pauses beneath the bleachers and peers out, hoping to chatch a glimpse of the mystery combatant among those who are already here. -Moonlight is standing off to the side a bit, trying to remain sort of out of sight. -Onslaught enters the arena, but stays close to the entrance...after a few moments crossing his arms, and tapping his foot, muttering softly to himself and obviously a little irritated. -The stands aren't exactly packed, but they're not bare either. The population of Dead End City has caught wind that an event is to be held which will break the sad monotony of their days, and they're always up for a fuel-fest. There are enough nondescript empties and neutrals for a group of Autobots or Decepticons to slip in among them unobserved - at least unobserved enough to leave each other in peace for the moment. -Steelwind ambles in nonchalantly in the middle of a small crowd of neutrals, then slips aside into a shadow and observes the area in silence. -Blitzwing hasnt arrived, or at least hasnt made his presence felt yet. -Moonlight is off to the side, probably near Blitzwing, waiting for the mech to make his entrance first. -Here's a long awaited guest I'm sure....Byline, his eyes sparkling in excitement. Byline looks about for someone to interview--a little pre-game excitement. Any takers? -Whiplash looks over the spectators. Not as many as she was used to in the old days, but it'll do. She melts out of the shadows and stands up into her robot mode, scanning the arena floor below, seeking out her opponants and her team-mate. -Byline sticks his microphone in front of Whiplash. "Any words before the match begins?" -Onslaught sighs as he moves himself through the arena, and standing right smack dab in the middle, calls out to the crowd...a proud voice, a confident voice...a calm calm calm voice. "Mechs and femmes...I thank you all for coming this cycle for this wonderous arena battle - an event as it were - that will be taking place. We're currently waiting on the 'mystery combatant's' shuttle to arrive, so hopefully we'll begin very shortly. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and encourage people to place bets on the match, as there is still time. Thank you for your patience..." with that, Onslaught does a quick wave to the crowd, and heads out of the arena. -Whiplash is about to start toward her two opponants, when the odd colorful little alien in the mecha-suit gets right in her way. She glares at him for a moment. "This going to be broadcast throughout the galaxy?" she asks, returning his question with one of her own. -Byline grins. "Yes indeed, miss! XOF Network serves three galaxies AND a star cluster, plus cable exports!" -Moonlight moves over to where Blitzwing is and taps him on the arm. -Blitzwing is standing in the bowels of the arena attempting to stay out of sight. Blitzwing says, "Yes me lady?" -Whiplash smirks a little, the tentacles curling forward around her and then away again, framing her in an undulating dark halo. "Good. You just keep your camera focused, so you can show the galaxies how *real* warriors fight. That is-" she glances around again as though seeking her competition - "if Blitzwing and Moonlight have been practicing like I told 'em to." -Byline says, "And what is the point of this match today?" -Moonlight shrugs at Blitzwing. "How long before we start do you think? I must confess to being a complete newbie when it comes to Gladiator Arenas." -Blitzwing grins to her. "the waiting is worse then the fighting. Fear not, it'll be over before you know it." -Moonlight smiles wryly. "That's what I'm afraid of Blitz." -Whiplash tilts her head a little and regards Byline, as though debating just how much to reveal. "Well, it started out as sort-of a disciplinary action. If there's warrios who want to beat on each other, they can do it for real out in the arena, where everyone can learn something out of it. Turned into more of an event, though. Good opportunity to get *some* people to practice." She grins, showing her serrated fangs. -Byline tilts her head. "So, you believe in punishment by combat. And what do you expect the robot to learn, by fighting this way? What if the one receiving punishment, wins?" -Blitzwing reachs over and does something uncharacteristic for him, openly displaying affection. He gives her a brief, but genuine hug. "Look at it this way...worst case scenario, you end up in the repair bsy...next to me." He snickers. -Whiplash says, "Then he's learned to better himself, hasn't he? So in the end we all still win. And yeah, discipline can get kinda physical sometimes. We don't mess around." -Byline puzzles. "But what if he's in trouble for fighting too much already? I mean, your Field Commander...." He trails off. -Whiplash lowers her voice a little as though sharing a conspiracy, though of course she knows it's all being recorded. "If he was *really* in trouble he wouldn't have made it to the arena on his own power." Her manner shifts to something a little more warning as she motions the microphone away, though, and then demands, "What about our Field Commander?" -Moonlight accepts the hug with one of her own. "Then it's a good thing we get along so well, isn't it?" She chuckles and takes a step back. "Just remember to watch the cape." She reaches back to make sure Blitzwing didn't muss her apparel. -Byline shrugs. "I don't know. She's done well to provide for us and our tours, but we hardly ever see her. She wasn't getting along too well with your Blitzwing, but hey! I'm just here to report." He walks over to Moonlight and Blitzwing. "Have you two been a team long?" Byline may have brought up a good point...where is Enfilade? -Enfilade arrives, but alone, and with a distant looking shine in her optics as she moves into the arena. -Whiplash's tentacls flicker around her. "Not getting along with Blitzwing? Interesting," she mutters to herself, and trails after the reporter, still scanning the crowd for any sign of whomever she might be teaming up with. -Blitzwing rolls his optics. "You gotta be kidding me girl...if you think this is flashy..wait till you see what i got planned." He nods in greeting to the camera man. "Team? She's the Lasercore, I'm the brawn." -Moonlight doesn't say anything to the camera, but she does smile and wave, letting Blitzwing do the talking for once. -Whiplash notices Enfilade's arrival, but after a quick glance in her direction, she circles around behind Moonlight and Blitzwing, and waits a short distance away. -Starfire trails in amongst a group of young and excited Decepticon recruits and cadets, all of them interested in seeing professionals exhibit their skill. -Calenture walks with Starfire and the group of cadets she is is with, visor gleaming almost as much as his armor. -Byline does some closeups on Blitzwing and Moonlight, then moves his camera to Calenture and Starfire. "Which team are you two cheering for?" -Enfilade does not speak to anyone, merely moves her way up the stands and takes a seat, leaning forward with her jaw in her hands and her elbows in her knees, and stares at the arena floor. -Moonlight pouts slightly once the camera's gone. "You don't like the cape?" she asks. -Whiplash takes the opportunity while the camera has moved on, and circles around fully into view of the opposing team. -Blitzwing looks to Moonlight, grinning, then turns to spy one half of the opposing duo. "Evenin ma'am. Hope your feeling well." -Starfire shrugs helplessly. "I don't know who's fighting whom, so I can't really say." She gives the alien an odd look and drops further back into her group, but... pinkness really doesn't lend itself to blending in with the crowd. -Whiplash says, "Oh, just wonderful. Nothing like arena combat to get the fuel pump in gear." She narrows her optics a bit and adds, "Don't call me ma'am, right? We got a little something to go over before we start." -Moonlight grins and waves at Whiplash. "Hey Lash. All excited for the fight?" -Calenture tilts his head to one side, peering at Byline for a moment before answering in a rich, melodios voice, "Neither." he states with amusement. "We are here to observe the different tactical skills being displayed. Why should we choose a team when both are brethren?' -Blitzwing shrugs his shoulders. "Sorry Lash. What's that? Your last will and testement?" He chuckles. He's joking, but it remains to be seen if Lash will get it. -Byline persists, "I hear betting on the matches is a popular entertainment." -Whiplash smirks faintly. There is indeed a kind of controlled anticipation about her, but it's held carefully in check, as though saving her energy for the actual event. The only hint of her true emotional state is the speed of her tentacles, which coil around her a little faster than usual. "Don't push your luck," she responds to Blitzwing, apparently not finding his quip amusing. "I figure, if my team-mate doesn't show up, it's me against the two of you, but you're still at a disadvantage. The last time you fought here, Blitz, you didn't do so hot. So let me refresh you on some rules." -Moonlight digs Blitzwing in the ribs, "Behave." She turns to face Whiplash, eager to hear about the rules, something she's not too familiar with. "Go on." -Calenture gives a shake of his head, "Were this a match between known gladiator combatants, I would agree with the rumor that betting is rampant." He waves a hand, what light is shining down flashing off of his highly polished frame, "However, as these two groups are combating as allies for a test of skill, it would be dishonroable to taint such a marval, such a magnifiscent display of power and skill, of speed and strength with something as lowly as a bet." -Blitzwing looks down at the floor cursing under inaudibly. -Enfilade doesn't even seem to notice Calenture as she pulls out her big handheld artillery cannon and starts to polish it. -Whiplash says, "Back in my time in the Games, once you got to a certain level, combat was to the death. You either won - or you died. That's just the name of the game. 'Course that wasn't true of the lower levels, and a lot of things have changed since then. Keep in mind that there's none of those silly holographic safeguards out here, like we'd have in the Darkmount arena, so this is for real. It also means, we fight to the point of incapacity and no further. I might hack off your turret, Blitzwing, but I won't take off your head. Beyond that, anything goes." -Starfire is catching more bits and pieces of what's going on, and the excited chatter around her helps as well. She knew of three of the combatants, but not the teamups. Peering down at the arena floor, she begins to put it together. Whiplash versus Blitzwing, yes, but where does Moonlight fit in, and what about this unknown? -Blitzwing nods silently. -Whiplash says, "Oh, and Moonlight. Lose the cape. It'll interfere with your movements." -Moonlight shrugs. "So, the rule is that, apart from no one dying, there are no rules?" -Whiplash nods in confirmation, and turns away sharply to put some distance between herself and her opposing team. That is, apparently, her last bit of advice before she shifts into a more ambitious mode. -Blitzwing walks into the shadows, beckoing for Moonlight to follow. -Whiplash looks up at the stands and the crowd growing restless, wondering if she really *will* end up taking on both of them alone. Silently she begins to formulate a strategy for such. -Moonlight follows Blitzwing into the shadows. She's nervous, that is for certain, but she's also very good at hiding her nervousness when she doesn't want it to show. -Byline picks up on the rules. "No holds barred, short of death? Has anyone ever died accidentally? Do the Autobots engage in this practice?" -Blitzwing says to her silently. "Listen up, follow me out, I got a real attention getter planned. They'll be locked on me...trust me." He grins to her. -Moonlight shrugs. "You go first, I'll come after..." -Calenture gives a tiny shurg, "Death is a part of life, my friend." he comments to Byline. "There have been instances, but with the level of competance it takes for such events as these to occur, it is exeptionally rare." -After quite the long absense, Onslaught finally returns to the arena, walking in with a bit of company, as a completely black 'beast' that would most resemble that of a lion accompanies him but a few mere feet behind. -Whiplash looks up at a ripple of murmurings from the spectators. -Starfire takes a seat with the rest of the youngsters and leans forward on the railing, staring down at the combatants. If she *were* the type to bet, she'd wager on Whiplash, especially as she saw Venture beat Blitzwing once. As for Moonlight... she probably needs to take a class in combat training, too. -Byline nods. Then he notices Onslaught's entrance. "Wow! Is that his pet?" This guy never learns.... -Calenture meanders throughthe stands, picking a place to watch the event that gives a good vantage point. -Enfilade runs her hand over the logo on the cannon. "RECOIL" glitters in the light. -Onslaught turns to his creature that follows him and half gestures with his head towards where he notices Whiplash, making his way to the middle of the arena once more, and once again, calling out towards all assembled, "Alright mechs and femmes, I thank you for waiting. We're just going to give the combatants another moment or two to finalize strategy, and then start this thing off. Now if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to try to find myself a good seat..." And with his amusing little quip, Onslaught quickly makes his way through the arena over to the spectators entrance. -Whiplash stares at Onslaught's companion with interest. *This* is her team-mate? Does he/she even transform? she wonders silently. -Last second strategy? Bah! Some people would walk humbly into an arena full of spectators with two dangerous foes awaiting him humbly, or at least with some hesitation. Where as some would cast a feeble wave, or some would slap their own chest and scream just to drown out the voices of doubt in their own lasercore. Instead the crowd only sees a turret fire not once, not twice, but twenty one times. The smug SOB gave his team a twenty one gun salute! He's not silencing his own doubts, he's screaming from the hilltops...I am that damn good. When the smoke clears, Blitzwing emerges from the tunnel, strutting towards the center of the arena floor, twirling his sword like a beat down baton. You can almost hear the sound of the 'I am the One' guitar riff (well he can as something similar is playing in his head. Zombie is far too good for Earth anyhow) as he makes his way towards the scene of the crime, gesturing to the crowd the whole time. He starts hopping with anticipation, rearing to go...but silent. He gestures towards the back for Moonlight, and gives a coutesy tilt of the head to his opponents. He's ready to dance. He makes little motion other then to raise a fist in the air, and litteraly draw a line in the dirt with his sword, he gets into a half crouch like he's poised to strike. -Nightclaw looks over at Whiplash as he slowly meanders his way over to her position, each step a calculated yet cautious one. -Moonlight waits until Blitzwing has made his entrance. According to her this is /his/ night and she's just the tag along. Of course, this didn't stop her from spiffing herself up a bit for the occassion. For the sake of the arena she has shined up her usual matte self to a high gloss. She has also added a pale, shimmery blue cape to the ensamble that looks like her namesake. As usual she wears a blaster, but instead of her normal whip, she has a sword hanging by her side. Once she is certain that Blitzwing's entrance has had it's chance to impress, she makes her own entrance. Since crowds don't really bother her, she isn't at all shy as she turns around and waves to them all in general. Then she does a half-bow to her opponents. As a final act, before the fight starts, she takes off the cape and tosses it towards the audience. -Enfilade looks up and suddenly seems not just moody but down right mad, as she rises to her feet, the tips of her swing wings flickering angrily. She paces a bit, then sits back down, but her optics are hard points of flint. -Whiplash watches Blitzwing's entrance dispassionately, though a crackle of electric blue light chases itself through her tentacles. The optics narrow for a moment as Moonlight rids herself of that cumbersome cape - then she glances toward her new team-mate and gives a nod of acknowledgement. Drawing her battle blade, she strides forward and spins it through several rotations meant to catch the light and reflect it back in a series of pulsatig strobes - her own silent response to Blitzwing's challenge. Keeping both her opposing team and her partner in the corner of her vision, she brings the blade up in a double-handed grip and edges into a circling pattern. -Calenture glances about for familiar faces to perhaps seat himself with. Catching sight of Onslaught, the violet seeker adjusts his seating choice so as to be next to the military commander. He waves a hand, "Greetings Onslaught, Mind some company?" -Starfire has had enough exposure to Phalanx over the years to be completely unimpressed by dramatics. The entrances are... wasteful of energy and attention. If you're fighting, if not for your life then for your limbs, you pay attention to your opponents, not to the crowd. -Blitzwing twirls his blade, a tad anxious. He circles eying his foes cautiously. -Nightclaw circles around a little, still seeming to be quite cautious. So far, all anyone has seen of this creature is his smooth movements, and in fact, hasn't said a word just yet...perhaps the silent type who waits to be spoken to first. Either way, he hangs to the back and right of Whiplash, watching their opponents carefully - having been told ALL about them on the way to the arena. -Onslaught looks over at Calenture and ponders the question for a few moments, before wordlessly gesturing towards the empty seat next to him, nodding as he watches the proceedings. -Moonlight's use of dramatics is merely a way to calm her nerves. It's working well enough to allow her to function without shaking, something that's rather important in a combat situation. Because of her lack of experience, she is reluctant to make the first move. Instead she hangs back behind Blitzwing slightly and watches the three other occupants of the arena floor. -Whiplash's tentacles dance around her, as her optics flicker brighter and settle into a gleaming violet glow, which she locks onto Blitzwing. Darting forward with a very sudden motion, she slashes out with the blade, as though feinting right toward his face to force him to block, maybe to retaliate. -Nightclaw sits as he regards the opening dances, the cold stare of his optics not wavering from their targets, his mane seemingly bouncing in anticipation of what is to come. -Blitzwing doesn't use his blade, no time to get it around. As far as he knows...it's on. He throws a boot towards her midsection in an attempt to halt her advance. -Whiplash takes a kick to the midsection from Blitzwing, having successfully lured him into making the first strike and coming in close. In response, she swings out her blade, hoping to take advantage of the proximity. -Seeing the first few blows have been struck, Moonlight decides that now is the perfect time for her to draw her blade. She gets herself into a fighting stance, takes a step back, and watches. -Nightclaw roars proudly as he begins moving to the right of the action, slowly circling, tail twitching about much like every fibre of his mane, as his gaze unwavers from the other combatants. -Calenture nods to Onslaught, settling himself inthe seat next to the tacitern commander. "Interesting battle this eve, sir. What brought this on?" -Blitzwing locks his optics onto Whiplash as her blade grazes his shoulder. He sends an uppercut towards the wily femme. -Onslaught chuckles at Calenture's question as he turns to look at the mech before answering, "Well, I'd say it was a punishment of sorts, but that bit of this has yet to be seen. A few things that brought this on...however, should we watch and wait, perhaps some of the reasons will be more clear. At least I hope they are." -Whiplash is still close enough to Blitzwing to take his retaliatory punch, and she lets it throw her backwards - even adds her own momentum to the strike, her blade still in her grip. Only after the initial moment is it apparent that the direction of Whiplash's backward flight has been toward Moonlight. For all her advice to the other femme, she's in arena-combat mode now, and senses inexperience and nervousness to be taken advantage of. Instead of retaliating against Blitzwing, she instead takes a swift slash at Moonlight with the gleaming blade. -Byline trots up to Enfilade and asks her whose side she's cheering for. -Enfilade tersely answers, "Neither." -Starfire finds herself straightening out some of her peers about Whiplash's skill, which leads into a not-so-old war story about invading mercenaries and exploding star destroyers... The conversation is interrupted by rapt silence every time one of the combatants makes an attack. -Moonlight had this feeling that Whiplash and Blitzwing are going to concentrate on each other mostly. This was mistake number one, and she is feeling it now. Shaking herself with a slight frown, she turns to face Whiplash, using the movement of her turn to bring the sword against her opponent as well. -Byline looks startled and quickly leaves, going down to the ringside seats where one camera films the action and the other sweeps the audience. -Nightclaw takes Whiplash's change of targets as a cue to do something - that something coming quite suddenly, as one moment Nightclaw seems to be quite relaxed, circling, the next he strikes, his body flying through the air as he launches himself at Blitzwing, aiming to pounce the 'braggart' mech. -Calenture nods his head sagely, "A lesson and a punishment. Interesting." He comments no more, simply settling himself more comfortably to watch the fray as itbegins. -Onslaught mutters to Calenture: "Are ... ... you ... ... sitting here ... me...? I ... ask out ... ... ... ... She doesn't quite ... herself...if anything ... ... seem to ... ... ... ask ... myself but I doubt ... be welcome ..." -Blitzwing stumbles backward slightly, and was taken aback by that. "Oh...surprise, I thought Whiplash actually wanted to fight a warrior." He swings his blade towards the opposing stranger. -Calenture mutters to Onslaught: "Why ... there ... a ... We're ... ... ... ... ... arena battle. Although she ... seem ... ... Maybe she ... like ... ... ... fight?" -Onslaught mutters to Calenture: "... there are many ... ... this...oh well. Perhaps ... be ... ... ... ... ... same..." -Calenture gives Onslaught a shrug, his visor shiftingshades, picking up a hint more gold. -Whiplash keeps very much aware of Blitzwing's position, but she seems for the moment intent on Moonlight. The reason why is hinted at in her next move, as she continues dancing backwards as though to be out of range of something, then very suddenly lunges forward, in the same instant shifting to MedusaSaur mode and racing through the narrow gap between Blitzwing and Nightclaw with fully-lit tentacles. Instead of striking out at Blitzwing, however, she shifts direction sharply once again and lunges for Moonlight. It's almost a verbal challenge to Blitzwing. -Nightclaw leaps back and growls as the sword slices into his body, his head shaking a little from side to side as the growl tones down and the fibres that make up his mane begin dancing around a bit more, even so much so as to seem as if they were elongating. The beast roars once more as he opens his mouth and presents his opponent with a stream of endless flame - fires raging towards Blitzwing as the beast appears ready to hop away should any other attack attempt to land itself. -Enfilade takes out a polishing cloth and starts shining the cannon furiously, paying more attention to it than to the match. -Moonlight was a bit more ready this time, but it was to no avail. Against a veteran like Whiplash she doesn't have much of a chance, but it's a chance she'll have to take. Since she just wants this whole affair to be over with, she decides not to try anything crafty, but just to go ahead and slash away at her opponent. She flicks a switch on her blade to make it surge to life, and with this, she makes her attack. -Blitzwing is singed slightly by the flame, but Whiplash now has his undivided attention. Moonlight is his responsibility, and he will protect her. He lunges with tremoundous velocity, aiming a throat high forearm at Whiplash, attempting to put an end to this early. -Calenture watches as Blitzwings attention is diverted to Moonlight. The seeker gives a shake of his head, murmuring, "bad tactics." -Onslaught is actually watching Enfilade more than the battle itself, his mind not on her, but on many a thing. Almost abruptly, Onslaught gets up, nodding softly to Calenture while whispering softly to the mech, "You'll have to excuse me, as I need to go check into something elsewhere. I'll return shortly, so please save my seat." and with that, Onslaught quietly begins to 'sneak' out of the arena, as best as one of his size can. -Whiplash twists around as Blitzwing rams into him, and rakes into him with those serrated fangs, going for the throat. -Calenture glances at Onslaught as he moves to 'sneak' away.. "Alright.." he lifts a brow behind his visor, attention flicking to Enfilade, visor shifting to a wine-rich crimson... "hnnnng...." -Nightclaw quickly snaps his head to watch his foolish prey disengage, a soft rumble emanating from his vocals as the flames die down. Nightclaw smoothly transforms for the first time since he made his appearance, a transformation that because of the darkness of his paint seems to be more fluid than that of other transformations. Once the process is complete, and the tall standing warrior robot replaces that of the beast, Nightclaw brings his shoulder mounted rocket launchers to bear on Blitzwing, and fires off a volley. -Moonlight doesn't really know her tactics are bad. There's a considerable ammount of difference between fighting in an arena and fighting in a bar. Unfortunately for Moonlight, she's used to the latter and not the former. For a moment she finds herself free of attacks, and is half tempted to wait things out for a bit. But instead she presses an attack on Whiplash, charging towards her and forcing her less than awesome weight against the opposing femme. -Blitzwing watches a rocket narrowly miss his head. He transforms so to better return fire. Incoming volley of death to Nightclaw. -Enfilade isn't even paying attention to Calenture...she's lost in her own dark little world. -Byline laughs as his cameras record. "This is great! Neelsaan's gonna be sorry she missed this!" -Whiplash dropped away from Blitzwing as soon as she sensed another attacker coming, and shifted sideways to elude Moonlight. As Blitzwing returns his attention to Nightclaw, she bolts forward again, heedless of the dents to her armor that should hamper her movements, but don't seem to do so greatly. The jaws gape again as she tries to slash into Blitzwing's treads as she races past. -Calenture gives a shake of his head, shifting in his seat with something akin to discomfort. . Wondering why he even came, he sinks into his seat, flipping his attention to the fight, forceing himself to study the tactics in play with a dispassionate air rising about him. The flamboyant seekers eternnaly cheerfulness seems to have dissipated into a rare moment ofutter seriousness. -Nightclaw leaps out of the way of the artillery shell, but instead of leaping perhaps to the side, or back as most would, Nightclaw instead leaps TOWARDS the tank, as he gets within range he pulls his right back back and snaps it forth, dozens of poly fibre wires similar to those found in his mane moving rapidly to ensnare the turret and front end of the tank's treads. -On the one hand, Moonlight is happy that the attacks seem to have turned away from her...on the other, she's always hated to be ignored. And it didn't help that her last attack was a failure. Switching her sword for her gun for the time being, she takes a shot at Whiplash. -Nightclaw stands motionless next to the tank for but a brief moment, cocking his head to the side as he seems to regard it - taking in the shape, the form...studying it. And then not more than a moment later, red bolts of energy travel along the poly fibre wires that have wrapped themselves around Blitzwing and entangled him, sending waves of electricity to course against his frame. -Blitzwing is hurt now...and mad. Noone hurts Moonlight, and noone humiliates him. But appearantly the electricity caused his turret to glitch as it fires straight up...misfiring like a fox. The ordinance whistles as it comes back down, say hello to a ba-bomb. -Enfilade straightens up, realizing that she cannot allow herself the indulgence of solitude when she is supposed to be appearing at an official function. She gets up, still carrying the cannon, and walks over to Calenture, where she sits back down....still saying nothing at all, though from a distance they might appear to be couple as usual. -Nightclaw jumps in the air and transforms, landing on top of the tank to avoid the fastly approaching bomb. NightClaw once again curiously regards the tank, padding about on top of it, before unsheathing the claws on one paw, and raising it in the air, extends the middle one and brings it down across the heavier armoured foe. -Calenture picks up on the movement next to him, glancing at Enfilade for a moment before seemingly returning his attention to the fray. His visor remains a deeper shade of crimson, form motionless as that air of distance continues tosurround him. but from a distance, they do seem to be the couple as usual. -Whiplash was still on the move as Moonlight's laser sizzles past her. She circles wide, as though debating between targets. Moonlight is still the obvious choice if she wants an enraged tank ready to make mistakes, but that turret is awfully tempting, now that he's helpfully transformed into tank mode. She races in toward the center again, as though ready to bolt past Blitzwing and make another slash at the treads, but instead launches herself upward as she reaches the tank's side, using his bulk to push off against and actually doing a flip in the air, a mid-motion transformation that brings her battle blade back into play with a flash of reflected light. As gravity carries her downward, she tries to aim the blade itself at the middle of the tank turret.