Full Set - Prompt Reply
Title: Alternate Choices
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Any/all - G1
Characters: Starscream
Rating: K+
Summary: One decision can affect everyone.
Prompt #1: TASK - change one characteristic trait/decision. What happens?
Starscream dropped, slamming into the Decepticon Air Commander, causing the mech to miss his chosen target.
“Starscream,” Thundercracker hissed, after turning topsy-turvy, hoping to dislodge his attacker. It would have worked if Sideswipe had jarred him. “Come to your senses, have you?” He shot at the opposing Seeker, wanting to dismember, hoping to disorient.
Starscream twisted in mid-air, narrowly escaping the process-rattling sonic blast. “I’m saner under Optimus than I’d ever be under Megatron.” He slammed on his retrothrusters, briefly hovering in midair, not wanting to tangle with a rematerializing Skywarp.
The teleporter, noticing his proffered prey wasn’t within arm’s reach, shoved power to his thrusters, desperate to flip and reverse his course, trying to reacquire a visual lock, when Starscream’s null lasers hit him in the back, dead center.
Ramjet used the distraction of his trine to body-slam into the Autobot flyer. “Not escaping us this time.” His arms wrapped around Starscream, preventing any movement that might lead to his escape.
Times like this, Starscream really wanted a Seeker Trine watching his back.
“Think again, slowpoke!” Sunstreaker cut his jetpack engines, and tore into the mech’s wings. The sudden pain flashing through Ramjet’s processors resulted in Starscream’s release.
“Took you long enough,” Sideswipe joined his twin in double-hitting the still-aware and fighting Thundercracker, letting Starscream to escape this aerial dog-fight and reinforcing the Autobot line, where they might be weak.
Starscream flew low, buzzing the ground-bound cons (and giving his allies a chance to strike the high-flying Seekers if they followed his sudden plummet and weaving path through the battlefield). A lucky shot from the Decepticons at this distance would hurt, but the fall wouldn’t deactivate him or send him into emergency stasis.
Tracks and the other short-distant flyers (scornfully called hoppers by the cons) followed Starscream’s example, flying amidst the strictly-ground bound enemy, generally sowing chaos in the midst of Decepticion gunners.
Above the battlefield, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker battled it out with Thundercracker, not ashamed to using Ramjet’s body as a barrier from the sonic barrage.
His first pass complete, Starscream angled up, ready to intervene if either of the twins desired assistance.
Times like this Starscream was glad he had the entire Autobot army watching his back - and had no problem returning the favor.
Title: Emergency Procedures
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: any/all - Unspecified
Characters: Unspecified
Rating: K+
Summary: When war approaches, you can learn to defend yourself, or find shelter.
Prompt #2 Lockdown
Lights flashed once, twice, three times, catching the attention of everyone. There was no need for audio-piercing sirens to shriek and wail.
“Head for the nearest shelter immediately,” the calm, collected voice of Greenlight echoed through the city streets.
“Head for the nearest shelter, immediately.” Her voice repeated the message and continued speaking as the unarmed mechs, weaponless femmes, and untrained mechlings calmly walked towards entrances to underground bunkers, not their surface homes.
“Head for the nearest shelter immediately.” Upon the seventh repetition, a new phrase was added. “This is not a drill - enemy forces have been sighted and are advancing - head for the nearest shelter.”
Wary adults, who’d lived through one attack or another in ruined cities tensed.
Everywhere, citizens, neutrals, travelers, traders, and more - those who chose not to add to the fighting - calmly but rapidly made their way into reinforced bomb bunkers, collecting in large groups.
There wasn’t enough resources to shield every family separately - but they could build large shielded areas for the residents of individual buildings.
Once the last straggler exited the surface streets, the emergency bunker doors - solid titanium - slammed shut, sealing them away from the coming, raging battle above.
Once the raging firefight ended, the victorious army having subdued the other side, they would emerge form their metal cocoons and assist in repairing the still living fighters, before rebuilding their livelihoods. To them, the winner didn’t matter.
Avoiding fight their brothers - for all had been created by Primus and were brethren, regardless of political affiliation or caste or abilities and appearance - was paramount.
Surviving to the end of the war - without killing or deliberately injuring another - was all they cared about.
Title: Life-habit decisions
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: any/all - G1
Characters: Perceptor
Rating: K+
Summary: Now is the time to speak up or stay silent - and our decision today will probably be the decisions we make tomorrow, and the following day.
Prompt #3 Bad Science
Perceptor shifted his attention from the teacher's last-minute instructions to Shockwave when the large gray mech finally showed up for class.
Perceptor vented. Shockwave only showed up for the lab-part of the classes, never attending the lectures, yet the mech was never disciplined (and he never got less than top marks in any graded work).
Shockwave sat next to his laboratory partner, a much larger, cargo-transport shuttle, who wanted to explore the rest of the Cybertron Empire - Sky something was the big mech’s name - who carefully slid as far away as he could without actually leaving the bench.
Shockwave seemed to delight in tormenting other students, focusing on those with flight abilities, and none of the professors seemed to care.
Perceptor went to work on his own lab work, nudging his partner. “Pay attention - Basalt is just waiting for a mishap to happen - any excuse to toss you out.”
The mech’s earfins glowed pink, but the mech read the instructions, memorizing the questions they were to answer during this lab. “Just because I accidentally placed acid in the growth medium for the crystals?”
Perceptor just grabbed Wheeljack’s arm before he could pour the solution in the beaker. "Double-check the chemical composition.”
As Wheeljack did, his optics went white. “This isn’t what we prepared last time!”
“No, it’s not.” Perceptor agreed. His own optics glowed and he stared at Shockwave, knowing but unable to prove some mech had sabotaged their work.
Shockwave’s partner fiddled with his hands, letting the latecomer do all the work - not helping with the experiment would result in a failing grade for the activity, but doing anything to help would mean something worse.
After all, any class could be repeated, or labs redone later on a student’s own time, but there was nothing as scholarship dependant student could do if his sponsors withdrew the funds.
Perceptor wished he could do something to assist the shuttle; tutor him, stand up for him, or even trade seats. He dared not. The last student who stood up for the Shockwave’s lab-victim had fallen into a hot smelter during a school trip.
It was impossible to expel Shockwave from the Academy, because not one of the mech’s past partners spoke up against him. Even the teachers avoided blacking listing Shockwave - or giving him the grade his substandard work truly deserved.
Title: Repeat again
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Any/all
Characters: Unspecified - OC’s
Rating: K
Summary: Too many public outings, too much of a once-highly anticipated event, can lead to indifference and lack of concern or care.
Prompt #4 Overexposure
When Kappa Prime stepped up to the podium for the ornly news-report (given by Prime himself, not a lackey), not one in the milling crowd noticed. When he gestured for silence, the muttering throng quieted - but did not fully silence themselves.
“Any bets on the uplifting subject of today’s encourage speech?” Lightscope asked those nearest him.
Bassnote snorted. “Put me down for ‘dock riots aren’t going to affect us’.”
Xylaphone groaned and hid his face. “He can’t spin that to be a positive thing.”
Fleetfoot agreed, said nothing. He had a bad feeling about this regular update - something about this regularly scheduled talk felt oppressive.
While the common workers were still positioning themselves - some to edge closer to hear him better, others closer to the gates so they could escape sooner, Kappa Prime began speaking, aware that few paid him any attention, not realizing why they ignored him. Him, The Prime, The Holder of The Matrix! When he was young, he fought for every opportunity to be there when the Prime spoke to the public.
Kappa Prime wanted to demand they listen - he’d learned in the boring meetings of the council, shouting did nothing.
So, Kappa continued with the prepared speech, telling the few who were turning in, that the restlessness in the docks, caused by those unsatisfied workers who wanted more fuel, when entire neighborhoods and blocks of citizens would be glad for any paid work, would soon be done with and life would resume.
When Kappa Prime told the world that the Council had implemented a cast system, (based on current earnings) in an effort to ease the grumbling about unfair distribution of dwindling fuel and resources, only a handful of the thousands were aware enough to protest immediately. Their shouts were lost, forgotten before Kappa Prime finished the positive aspect spin and dismissed the assembled citizens.
Title: Aftermath
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Bayverse
Characters: Sam, Miles
Rating: K+
Summary: Slowly introducing ideas, instead of suddenly revealing, might be an easier way of making first contact.
Prompt #5 Mythbuster inspired - Testing of a myth or popular saying (precursor here)
That Saturday, Miles Lancaster leaned against Bumblebee’s yellow and black-stripped hood. He’d seen Trent De Marco make himself look like a fool, yet listened as Sam retold the story.
“Dude, you have an awesome car!” Miles laughed alongside his best friend. “Can anyone direct Satan’s Camero, or just you?”
Sam shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned. “Get in the driver’s seat,” he ordered, sliding into the passenger side
Miles did, rested one hand on the wheel, while fumbling for the keys until Sam coughed. “Vocal commands remember?”
Miles rolled his eyes, spoke clearly. “Bee, turn on.”
Bumblebee repeated the line from the Pixar movie. “Voice key incorrect.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to roll his eyes. “Bee, recognize Miles Lancaster.”
“Voice key - voice command recognized. Destination?” Bumblebee switched vocal tracks, splicing in a line from a once-popular television show.
“Dude!” Miles capped astonished. “I want one! Who’d you talk to? Can anyone get untested prototype technology form Knight Industries?” Miles jabbered on, ecstatic.
As Bumblebee drove the two excited teenagers to the mall, he realized that Sam’s initial prank might be a good way to introduce Autobots to the world and the public - he’d have to okay it with Prime before implementing it further. But maybe Miles wouldn’t freak out if he did discover their existence.
Title: World of Difference
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Prime
Characters: June
Rating: Teen
Summary: The end of something good? Or the beginning of something greater?
Prompt # Picture!
June Parr stood in the driveway, wondering if the this was a nightmare. She walked on the snow-filled sidewalks, looking this way and that way for her husband’s black car.
It wasn’t there. It wasn’t anywhere on the block!
June Parr stepped into the street, retraced her steps, slowly coming to the awful truth. Robert Parr had taken off, abandoning her. Abandoning them.
Tears threatened to blur her vision. She stopped walking, looked up watching but not seeing the mild winter squall drop another two inches of snow.
June breathed slowly, deeply. She would not let this setback destroy her life. Moving, starting anew where her soon to be ex could never find her, seemed like a good start.
June Darby nee’ Parr made her way to the cold, dark, empty house. She’d always liked the solitude of deserts.
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Any/all - G1
Characters: Starscream
Rating: K+
Summary: One decision can affect everyone.
Prompt #1: TASK - change one characteristic trait/decision. What happens?
Starscream dropped, slamming into the Decepticon Air Commander, causing the mech to miss his chosen target.
“Starscream,” Thundercracker hissed, after turning topsy-turvy, hoping to dislodge his attacker. It would have worked if Sideswipe had jarred him. “Come to your senses, have you?” He shot at the opposing Seeker, wanting to dismember, hoping to disorient.
Starscream twisted in mid-air, narrowly escaping the process-rattling sonic blast. “I’m saner under Optimus than I’d ever be under Megatron.” He slammed on his retrothrusters, briefly hovering in midair, not wanting to tangle with a rematerializing Skywarp.
The teleporter, noticing his proffered prey wasn’t within arm’s reach, shoved power to his thrusters, desperate to flip and reverse his course, trying to reacquire a visual lock, when Starscream’s null lasers hit him in the back, dead center.
Ramjet used the distraction of his trine to body-slam into the Autobot flyer. “Not escaping us this time.” His arms wrapped around Starscream, preventing any movement that might lead to his escape.
Times like this, Starscream really wanted a Seeker Trine watching his back.
“Think again, slowpoke!” Sunstreaker cut his jetpack engines, and tore into the mech’s wings. The sudden pain flashing through Ramjet’s processors resulted in Starscream’s release.
“Took you long enough,” Sideswipe joined his twin in double-hitting the still-aware and fighting Thundercracker, letting Starscream to escape this aerial dog-fight and reinforcing the Autobot line, where they might be weak.
Starscream flew low, buzzing the ground-bound cons (and giving his allies a chance to strike the high-flying Seekers if they followed his sudden plummet and weaving path through the battlefield). A lucky shot from the Decepticons at this distance would hurt, but the fall wouldn’t deactivate him or send him into emergency stasis.
Tracks and the other short-distant flyers (scornfully called hoppers by the cons) followed Starscream’s example, flying amidst the strictly-ground bound enemy, generally sowing chaos in the midst of Decepticion gunners.
Above the battlefield, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker battled it out with Thundercracker, not ashamed to using Ramjet’s body as a barrier from the sonic barrage.
His first pass complete, Starscream angled up, ready to intervene if either of the twins desired assistance.
Times like this Starscream was glad he had the entire Autobot army watching his back - and had no problem returning the favor.
Title: Emergency Procedures
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: any/all - Unspecified
Characters: Unspecified
Rating: K+
Summary: When war approaches, you can learn to defend yourself, or find shelter.
Prompt #2 Lockdown
Lights flashed once, twice, three times, catching the attention of everyone. There was no need for audio-piercing sirens to shriek and wail.
“Head for the nearest shelter immediately,” the calm, collected voice of Greenlight echoed through the city streets.
“Head for the nearest shelter, immediately.” Her voice repeated the message and continued speaking as the unarmed mechs, weaponless femmes, and untrained mechlings calmly walked towards entrances to underground bunkers, not their surface homes.
“Head for the nearest shelter immediately.” Upon the seventh repetition, a new phrase was added. “This is not a drill - enemy forces have been sighted and are advancing - head for the nearest shelter.”
Wary adults, who’d lived through one attack or another in ruined cities tensed.
Everywhere, citizens, neutrals, travelers, traders, and more - those who chose not to add to the fighting - calmly but rapidly made their way into reinforced bomb bunkers, collecting in large groups.
There wasn’t enough resources to shield every family separately - but they could build large shielded areas for the residents of individual buildings.
Once the last straggler exited the surface streets, the emergency bunker doors - solid titanium - slammed shut, sealing them away from the coming, raging battle above.
Once the raging firefight ended, the victorious army having subdued the other side, they would emerge form their metal cocoons and assist in repairing the still living fighters, before rebuilding their livelihoods. To them, the winner didn’t matter.
Avoiding fight their brothers - for all had been created by Primus and were brethren, regardless of political affiliation or caste or abilities and appearance - was paramount.
Surviving to the end of the war - without killing or deliberately injuring another - was all they cared about.
Title: Life-habit decisions
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: any/all - G1
Characters: Perceptor
Rating: K+
Summary: Now is the time to speak up or stay silent - and our decision today will probably be the decisions we make tomorrow, and the following day.
Prompt #3 Bad Science
Perceptor shifted his attention from the teacher's last-minute instructions to Shockwave when the large gray mech finally showed up for class.
Perceptor vented. Shockwave only showed up for the lab-part of the classes, never attending the lectures, yet the mech was never disciplined (and he never got less than top marks in any graded work).
Shockwave sat next to his laboratory partner, a much larger, cargo-transport shuttle, who wanted to explore the rest of the Cybertron Empire - Sky something was the big mech’s name - who carefully slid as far away as he could without actually leaving the bench.
Shockwave seemed to delight in tormenting other students, focusing on those with flight abilities, and none of the professors seemed to care.
Perceptor went to work on his own lab work, nudging his partner. “Pay attention - Basalt is just waiting for a mishap to happen - any excuse to toss you out.”
The mech’s earfins glowed pink, but the mech read the instructions, memorizing the questions they were to answer during this lab. “Just because I accidentally placed acid in the growth medium for the crystals?”
Perceptor just grabbed Wheeljack’s arm before he could pour the solution in the beaker. "Double-check the chemical composition.”
As Wheeljack did, his optics went white. “This isn’t what we prepared last time!”
“No, it’s not.” Perceptor agreed. His own optics glowed and he stared at Shockwave, knowing but unable to prove some mech had sabotaged their work.
Shockwave’s partner fiddled with his hands, letting the latecomer do all the work - not helping with the experiment would result in a failing grade for the activity, but doing anything to help would mean something worse.
After all, any class could be repeated, or labs redone later on a student’s own time, but there was nothing as scholarship dependant student could do if his sponsors withdrew the funds.
Perceptor wished he could do something to assist the shuttle; tutor him, stand up for him, or even trade seats. He dared not. The last student who stood up for the Shockwave’s lab-victim had fallen into a hot smelter during a school trip.
It was impossible to expel Shockwave from the Academy, because not one of the mech’s past partners spoke up against him. Even the teachers avoided blacking listing Shockwave - or giving him the grade his substandard work truly deserved.
Title: Repeat again
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Any/all
Characters: Unspecified - OC’s
Rating: K
Summary: Too many public outings, too much of a once-highly anticipated event, can lead to indifference and lack of concern or care.
Prompt #4 Overexposure
When Kappa Prime stepped up to the podium for the ornly news-report (given by Prime himself, not a lackey), not one in the milling crowd noticed. When he gestured for silence, the muttering throng quieted - but did not fully silence themselves.
“Any bets on the uplifting subject of today’s encourage speech?” Lightscope asked those nearest him.
Bassnote snorted. “Put me down for ‘dock riots aren’t going to affect us’.”
Xylaphone groaned and hid his face. “He can’t spin that to be a positive thing.”
Fleetfoot agreed, said nothing. He had a bad feeling about this regular update - something about this regularly scheduled talk felt oppressive.
While the common workers were still positioning themselves - some to edge closer to hear him better, others closer to the gates so they could escape sooner, Kappa Prime began speaking, aware that few paid him any attention, not realizing why they ignored him. Him, The Prime, The Holder of The Matrix! When he was young, he fought for every opportunity to be there when the Prime spoke to the public.
Kappa Prime wanted to demand they listen - he’d learned in the boring meetings of the council, shouting did nothing.
So, Kappa continued with the prepared speech, telling the few who were turning in, that the restlessness in the docks, caused by those unsatisfied workers who wanted more fuel, when entire neighborhoods and blocks of citizens would be glad for any paid work, would soon be done with and life would resume.
When Kappa Prime told the world that the Council had implemented a cast system, (based on current earnings) in an effort to ease the grumbling about unfair distribution of dwindling fuel and resources, only a handful of the thousands were aware enough to protest immediately. Their shouts were lost, forgotten before Kappa Prime finished the positive aspect spin and dismissed the assembled citizens.
Title: Aftermath
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Bayverse
Characters: Sam, Miles
Rating: K+
Summary: Slowly introducing ideas, instead of suddenly revealing, might be an easier way of making first contact.
Prompt #5 Mythbuster inspired - Testing of a myth or popular saying (precursor here)
That Saturday, Miles Lancaster leaned against Bumblebee’s yellow and black-stripped hood. He’d seen Trent De Marco make himself look like a fool, yet listened as Sam retold the story.
“Dude, you have an awesome car!” Miles laughed alongside his best friend. “Can anyone direct Satan’s Camero, or just you?”
Sam shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned. “Get in the driver’s seat,” he ordered, sliding into the passenger side
Miles did, rested one hand on the wheel, while fumbling for the keys until Sam coughed. “Vocal commands remember?”
Miles rolled his eyes, spoke clearly. “Bee, turn on.”
Bumblebee repeated the line from the Pixar movie. “Voice key incorrect.”
Now it was Sam’s turn to roll his eyes. “Bee, recognize Miles Lancaster.”
“Voice key - voice command recognized. Destination?” Bumblebee switched vocal tracks, splicing in a line from a once-popular television show.
“Dude!” Miles capped astonished. “I want one! Who’d you talk to? Can anyone get untested prototype technology form Knight Industries?” Miles jabbered on, ecstatic.
As Bumblebee drove the two excited teenagers to the mall, he realized that Sam’s initial prank might be a good way to introduce Autobots to the world and the public - he’d have to okay it with Prime before implementing it further. But maybe Miles wouldn’t freak out if he did discover their existence.
Title: World of Difference
Author: Rose0mary
Continuity: Prime
Characters: June
Rating: Teen
Summary: The end of something good? Or the beginning of something greater?
Prompt # Picture!
June Parr stood in the driveway, wondering if the this was a nightmare. She walked on the snow-filled sidewalks, looking this way and that way for her husband’s black car.
It wasn’t there. It wasn’t anywhere on the block!
June Parr stepped into the street, retraced her steps, slowly coming to the awful truth. Robert Parr had taken off, abandoning her. Abandoning them.
Tears threatened to blur her vision. She stopped walking, looked up watching but not seeing the mild winter squall drop another two inches of snow.
June breathed slowly, deeply. She would not let this setback destroy her life. Moving, starting anew where her soon to be ex could never find her, seemed like a good start.
June Darby nee’ Parr made her way to the cold, dark, empty house. She’d always liked the solitude of deserts.