LAST CHANCE - Speedwrite prompt fill (first version)
TITLE: Last Ditch Measures
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Rodimus Prime
UNIVERSE: G1 (movieverse)
SUMMARY: When all other options have failed, there is only one course of action.
PROMPT #1 Last chance to speak up before a pivotal moment.
Rodimus Prime paced in the open floor. The officers - Autobot and Decepticion, the late Optimus Prime’s officers, and current Rodimus Prime’s officers - watched, waited as the spokesmech for all Cybertrons weighed the choices before him.
“Any other suggestions? Does any mech have information that has not yet been shared?”
Jazz looked at his soldiers. They shook their helms. “Nothing from Spec-Ops, sir.”
Galvatron’s surviving troops caught Wrecker Springer’s optic and gave a negative signal.
Rodimus Prime’s gaze reached every officer and every soldier packed along the wall. One by one, they indicated they had nothing further to share.
“Then I see no other choice - we bring the fight to Unicron.”
TITLE: Last Stand.
RATING: Teen
CHARACTER: Sunstreaker
UNIVERSE: Bayverse, Premovie
SUMMARY: You Shall Not Pass!
PROMPT #2 - Last Moments in the universe
Wounded legs buckling, half-sheared struts collapsing, Sunstreaker fell and slid. The abrupt breaking on the rocky ground scratched his yellow paint. He ignored the surface damage.
Sideswipe slowed and turned. He was ready to yank his twin up and carry him along if he had to.
Sunstreaker gritted his teeth, forced his wrecked legs to support him and stood upright. “Keep running! Get the younglings to Ratchet!”
Sideswipe paused in the middle of the valley, torn between helping his twin, or doing the prudent thing and making sure at least one of them survived. “Sunny, I Can’t.” He took one step towards Sunstreaker.
“Go - That’s an order!
“Sunny -“ Faint chirps of alarm, weakened by long-term malnourishment, helped Sideswipe make the only choice he could.
“Go. Now.” Sunstreaker resolutely turned his back, optics searching for the pursuers they could hear behind them. He felt his twin’s presence dim, not vanish - as long as both lived, that presence would always be there. Sunstreaker stood as tall as he could, activating the energon swords that helped distinguish him and his twin from all other duo-fighting teams.
“You want those two back? You’ll have to go through me!”
The approaching con scum sneered when they heard that simple statement. There was only one badly damaged warrior in front of them, and they could see the other still fleeing. The closest cons spared no glimpse for Sunstreaker, intent on bypassing the roadblock.
They died, dismembered by the swords held in the melee warriors servos.
They were replaced by others behind them.
Sunstreaker fought valiantly, desperately. Every stab and slice removed a limb or a spark. Tagged by the automated security measures guarding the prisons and labs, he fought as if he could continue this dance of death forever, despite being alone. However, he remained one mech against an army and they slowly overwhelmed him by sheer force of numbers.
Sunstreaker died, buying time for Sideswipe to get Skids and Mudflap to the Autobot medics.
TITLE: Unintended Side Effects
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Inferno, FireStar
UNIVERSE: Generation 1
SUMMARY: Perfect systems create unforeseen complications, when someone other than the designer fills in.
PROMPT # 3 Last time doing something.
“How are you holding up, Inferno?”
“Terrible, Firestar.” Inferno shuttered his optics, briefly resting his head in his arm on the security console not covered with screens or changing images. “Tell me you have some good news,” he pleaded.
“Red Alert did come to briefly, a joor ago.”
“Terrific,” grumbled Inferno, too tired for what was said to register. “I don’t know how much longer I can handle Red’s procedures and security-set up. It’s driving me bonkers!”
Firestar leaned against the back of the only chair. “I said Red Alert woke - he’s a worse patient than a captive Starscream.”
“Yeah, I … wait. Red Alert is out of stasis?”
Firestar dropped her head. “Yes. Last I saw, Red Alert was arguing vehemently with Ratchet, claiming Security concerns overrule medical opinions.”
Inferno found energy to chuckle. “I wish I could have been there.”
“There’s a camera in the medbay.”
“I know - just haven’t figured out the password that lets me switch screens or review tapped footage.” Inferno pointed to a control panel.
“…. Is that standard security measures?”
“Nope. Red’s paranoia. Mech can’t let anyone access his system without his permission, which means all the safety features designed to protect us, creates an even bigger hindrance when Red Alert’s not available.”
Inferno stood up, looked at the floors, trying to locate any trash he might have accidentally kicked underneath.
“You’re cleaning up now?” Firestar kept an optic on the randomly changing viewscreens. “Ratchet won’t release Red Alert from the medbay until he manages to drink one full cube of energon and gets a decent night’s recharge. “
Inferno scoffed. “It’s Red. He can’t rest easy until he’s able to check form himself that the Ark is A-Okay. Plus, I don’t want to spend one second more cooped up .”
Firestar smiled. “Jumping up and down inside?”
“Totally.” Infoerno deadpanned - just as the doors slid open, to allow Red Alert Access.
TITLE: A Letter Home
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Robert Epps
UNIVERSE: Bayverse
SUMMARY: It is the bonds of family and friendship that keep us fighting long after others would have given up.
PROMPT #4, last electronic conversation
Robert Epps stared at the computer screen, ignoring the blinking cursor. He would type when he was ready, not compose on the fly.
Epps spared a glance for the stack of unfinished reports. All he had to do was sign and read, before passing them up to William Lennox.
Robert focused his attention back to the computer and black -email. He was ready.
Fingers reached for the keyboard. Words appeared on the screen, at a steady pace.
Theresa, I wish I could tell you and our daughters everything that has happened of late.
Do not forget that I Love You
“BLAST!” Epps cursed when the base alarms blared and flashed. He lunged for the door, grabbing gear. “They had to schedule a drill now?”
The rest of NEST assembled, also having to regroup in the midst of personal activities. Once assembled, they learned it wasn’t a drill.
Intellectually, every human knew the odds were against every single one of them returning to base alive. They went out anyway, determined to be the back-up for their Autobot allies - even if it cost them their lives, limbs, or minds.
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Rodimus Prime
UNIVERSE: G1 (movieverse)
SUMMARY: When all other options have failed, there is only one course of action.
PROMPT #1 Last chance to speak up before a pivotal moment.
Rodimus Prime paced in the open floor. The officers - Autobot and Decepticion, the late Optimus Prime’s officers, and current Rodimus Prime’s officers - watched, waited as the spokesmech for all Cybertrons weighed the choices before him.
“Any other suggestions? Does any mech have information that has not yet been shared?”
Jazz looked at his soldiers. They shook their helms. “Nothing from Spec-Ops, sir.”
Galvatron’s surviving troops caught Wrecker Springer’s optic and gave a negative signal.
Rodimus Prime’s gaze reached every officer and every soldier packed along the wall. One by one, they indicated they had nothing further to share.
“Then I see no other choice - we bring the fight to Unicron.”
TITLE: Last Stand.
RATING: Teen
CHARACTER: Sunstreaker
UNIVERSE: Bayverse, Premovie
SUMMARY: You Shall Not Pass!
PROMPT #2 - Last Moments in the universe
Wounded legs buckling, half-sheared struts collapsing, Sunstreaker fell and slid. The abrupt breaking on the rocky ground scratched his yellow paint. He ignored the surface damage.
Sideswipe slowed and turned. He was ready to yank his twin up and carry him along if he had to.
Sunstreaker gritted his teeth, forced his wrecked legs to support him and stood upright. “Keep running! Get the younglings to Ratchet!”
Sideswipe paused in the middle of the valley, torn between helping his twin, or doing the prudent thing and making sure at least one of them survived. “Sunny, I Can’t.” He took one step towards Sunstreaker.
“Go - That’s an order!
“Sunny -“ Faint chirps of alarm, weakened by long-term malnourishment, helped Sideswipe make the only choice he could.
“Go. Now.” Sunstreaker resolutely turned his back, optics searching for the pursuers they could hear behind them. He felt his twin’s presence dim, not vanish - as long as both lived, that presence would always be there. Sunstreaker stood as tall as he could, activating the energon swords that helped distinguish him and his twin from all other duo-fighting teams.
“You want those two back? You’ll have to go through me!”
The approaching con scum sneered when they heard that simple statement. There was only one badly damaged warrior in front of them, and they could see the other still fleeing. The closest cons spared no glimpse for Sunstreaker, intent on bypassing the roadblock.
They died, dismembered by the swords held in the melee warriors servos.
They were replaced by others behind them.
Sunstreaker fought valiantly, desperately. Every stab and slice removed a limb or a spark. Tagged by the automated security measures guarding the prisons and labs, he fought as if he could continue this dance of death forever, despite being alone. However, he remained one mech against an army and they slowly overwhelmed him by sheer force of numbers.
Sunstreaker died, buying time for Sideswipe to get Skids and Mudflap to the Autobot medics.
TITLE: Unintended Side Effects
RATING: K
CHARACTER: Inferno, FireStar
UNIVERSE: Generation 1
SUMMARY: Perfect systems create unforeseen complications, when someone other than the designer fills in.
PROMPT # 3 Last time doing something.
“How are you holding up, Inferno?”
“Terrible, Firestar.” Inferno shuttered his optics, briefly resting his head in his arm on the security console not covered with screens or changing images. “Tell me you have some good news,” he pleaded.
“Red Alert did come to briefly, a joor ago.”
“Terrific,” grumbled Inferno, too tired for what was said to register. “I don’t know how much longer I can handle Red’s procedures and security-set up. It’s driving me bonkers!”
Firestar leaned against the back of the only chair. “I said Red Alert woke - he’s a worse patient than a captive Starscream.”
“Yeah, I … wait. Red Alert is out of stasis?”
Firestar dropped her head. “Yes. Last I saw, Red Alert was arguing vehemently with Ratchet, claiming Security concerns overrule medical opinions.”
Inferno found energy to chuckle. “I wish I could have been there.”
“There’s a camera in the medbay.”
“I know - just haven’t figured out the password that lets me switch screens or review tapped footage.” Inferno pointed to a control panel.
“…. Is that standard security measures?”
“Nope. Red’s paranoia. Mech can’t let anyone access his system without his permission, which means all the safety features designed to protect us, creates an even bigger hindrance when Red Alert’s not available.”
Inferno stood up, looked at the floors, trying to locate any trash he might have accidentally kicked underneath.
“You’re cleaning up now?” Firestar kept an optic on the randomly changing viewscreens. “Ratchet won’t release Red Alert from the medbay until he manages to drink one full cube of energon and gets a decent night’s recharge. “
Inferno scoffed. “It’s Red. He can’t rest easy until he’s able to check form himself that the Ark is A-Okay. Plus, I don’t want to spend one second more cooped up .”
Firestar smiled. “Jumping up and down inside?”
“Totally.” Infoerno deadpanned - just as the doors slid open, to allow Red Alert Access.
TITLE: A Letter Home
RATING: K+
CHARACTER: Robert Epps
UNIVERSE: Bayverse
SUMMARY: It is the bonds of family and friendship that keep us fighting long after others would have given up.
PROMPT #4, last electronic conversation
Robert Epps stared at the computer screen, ignoring the blinking cursor. He would type when he was ready, not compose on the fly.
Epps spared a glance for the stack of unfinished reports. All he had to do was sign and read, before passing them up to William Lennox.
Robert focused his attention back to the computer and black -email. He was ready.
Fingers reached for the keyboard. Words appeared on the screen, at a steady pace.
Theresa, I wish I could tell you and our daughters everything that has happened of late.
Do not forget that I Love You
“BLAST!” Epps cursed when the base alarms blared and flashed. He lunged for the door, grabbing gear. “They had to schedule a drill now?”
The rest of NEST assembled, also having to regroup in the midst of personal activities. Once assembled, they learned it wasn’t a drill.
Intellectually, every human knew the odds were against every single one of them returning to base alive. They went out anyway, determined to be the back-up for their Autobot allies - even if it cost them their lives, limbs, or minds.