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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 7, 2009 11:08:44 GMT -5
Shockwave lunges after Starscream, using his anti-gravs to give himself a boost, and tries to grab Starscream by the foot before he can get out of reach. The gunformer takes more hits for his trouble. Some of the blasts score marks on already damaged areas, scorching armour and causing sparks
"Hgn. It has been awhile since I have sparred with a flier. It is always a challenge getting one to stay down."
True, Shockwave can fly, but he knows he can't match a Seeker in the air, even in robot mode. If the conflict stays above ground, they will simply be sniping at each other until one or the other hits something vital.
"But then, you have always had trouble recognizing when you are in the presence of your betters."
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 7, 2009 19:00:09 GMT -5
"Have I now, Shockwave? Well I would hope that my better would have revealed themselves to me by this point." Shockwave does indeed take hold, to which Starscream responds by taking off. Using not just his anti-gravs, but his boot-jets as well.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 7, 2009 20:56:43 GMT -5
Shockwave was expecting the thruster-to-the-face tactic, but that does not mean he feels the burn any less. The flames darken his plating, making paint peel back and some conduits in the arm begin to warp and melt. It is nothing the gunformer cannot work through, however. He averted his optic, so that is safe, but it takes a few moments for him to move beyond simply holding on to Starscream.
And then he tightens that hold, fingers digging deeply into Starscream's boot, crimping metal. For all that his hand is capable of such delicate work, Shockwave is strong and Seeker armour is not going to hold up long. He activates his own anti-gravs, changing the pairs direction and then, Shockwave yanks hard on Starscream's leg. The sudden pull slams the Seeker into one of the training scenarios building walls, sending simulated concrete and rebar crumbling.
He then tries to close with Starscream, gun arm aimed at the Seeker's face, hand out to try and clamp down on one of Starscream's arm-mounted rifles.
"What you are forgetting, Starscream, is that I have bested my Megatron- in one-on-one combat, no less. You still cower and simper behind yours."
Manhandling of Starscream done with player permission
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 9, 2009 4:41:56 GMT -5
Starscream hits the building bodily, brandishing a significant crunch on his leg that is going to make walking difficult. "Oh did you now." Starscream says. "I wonder, what dazzling colour display did you brandish when you bested him?"
Starscream has no interest for the stories that Shockwave makes up, nor how he chooses to interpret whatever stories have been said about Starscream from the others. Starscream was there when Megatron declared Starscream the leader, he was there when plan after plan of his fell through despite Starscream's own interjections. And if the stories are to be believed? He will be the one who finally dispatches Megatron once and for all.
And the problem with having one hand--even if you clamp down on a rifle like Shockwave has, it's no good when your opponent has two. For the first time, Starscream uses his null ray. It's at about middle-charge, aimed square at Shockwave's chest. He's not going to be KOed, but it's going to numb him up.
It could have been full charge, but Starscream has no interest in mocking someone that is unconscious.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 9, 2009 13:26:14 GMT -5
Ah, the clash of wills and arrogance- such a right of passage between Decepticon leaders and their second-in-commands. Rare, though, that it gets to happen under such controlled circumstances.
Shockwave expected the blast. He knows the limitations of his build, which is why he does not often close in combat. But there are times when it is ever so much more satisfying to feel metal crumpling in his grip.
Now would be one of those times.
His intention upon grabbing the one gun is to try and rip it from it's mount, something he tries even as he takes the null blast to his chest. It is possible that Shockwave could recover even from a full blast; at one time he could have, but he no longer has the reserves of Cybertron itself to draw upon. As it is, Shockwave is reminded of exactly why Starscream was able to rise through the Decepticon ranks so quickly.
He floats back on his anti-gravs, forced back by the blast more than any deliberate attempt on his part to move away. Starscream has the advantage.
For the moment.
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 9, 2009 18:13:50 GMT -5
Yes, that's it, Shockwave, keep on underestimating Starscream as some screeching coward, ignore his many abilities. Honestly, people must think he simpered his way to his standing.
Starscream has once again bought time, even if it's at the cost of his left arm rifle being half-torn out of its mount. But now it's more than enough time to escape an unfortunate position. Escaping the damaged building, Starscream transforms into jet mode, deftly banks around the building...
And launches a pair of cluster bombs in the immediate vicinity of Shockwave.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 9, 2009 21:52:01 GMT -5
Shockwave has never truly ignored Starscream's abilities. It has simply been vorns since his own Starscream's powers could be more than a passing nuisance. Shockwave is, after all, not untouched by the arrogance which comes with being a Decepticon leader. This spar is good for him. Aside from being therapeutic, it reminds him that he is not what he once was. Something to remember, now that he has a certain captive hidden away.
The null blast, point blank as it was, numbed several of Shockwave's major motor functions, and so Starscream's cluster bombs are almost upon the technicolor gunformer before his systems reboot. He manages a slow roll to one side, not quite avoiding the grouping...
And gets bandied about like a pinball amongst the subsequent explosions. It messes with his equilibrium, costs him time- but has the ironic benefit of blackening his plating and rendering most of Hook's handiwork invisible.
"Yes, I did," Shockwave belatedly answers as he ducks behind around a building, "You are...quite the vexing opponent, you know." Shockwave's voice is very clipped, flat, and devoid of accent. He is actually quite angry at the moment. Too many irritants in too small a span of time.
He transforms, and when he gets a clear path, sends a volley of explosive gamma-rays toward the Seeker, hoping to once more clip Starscream's wings.
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 9, 2009 22:07:41 GMT -5
The blast sends Starscream careening nose-over-tailfin as he attempts to right himself. "GAAAH!" He yells, unaccustomed to being out of sorts in the air.
The F-15 is now looking pretty worse for wear, but still airworthy. However it's now several shades of gray darker.
"I'm sorry, Shockwave?" Starscream says as he rights himself. "'Vexing'?" He regains his vector as he heads straight towards Shockwave. "Fortunately we are talking about a being of pure logic, so there is not even the most slightest possibility that I could vex you!"
The gun mode barrel has already taken a punishment with two direct hits from laser fire. Let's see what happens were a jet to collide with it, at speed.
Starscream hits his afterburners.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 9, 2009 22:34:25 GMT -5
"I have never claimed to be emotionless, Starscream. I simply have better control than most," Shockwave growls out, trying to get a good line on the tumbling Seeker, "And Megatron made a point of cultivating our...more violent tendencies in the beginning. It has been a very, very long time, since I have let them loose."
And now Starscream tries the fool's gambit. Split-seconds in which to make a decision, and it is one fueled more by Shockwave's anger than by his vaunted logic. He swings to face the incoming jet head on...
...and fires a gamma blast right before impact.
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 10, 2009 0:58:00 GMT -5
Fortunately Starscream was caught in the blast for a minimum of time before colliding and getting clear of it. Unfortunately, the fact that the collision cost him badly too.
Between the point-blank blast, brief as it was, and his own damage from the impact, Starscream's jet mode is probably going to be of limited use to him in this fight. Transforming the worst of his jet-mode damage to his back, Starscream fires a quick array of null ray blasts--he's barely charged these and are probably going to result in some mild numbness rather than anything lasting--but they'll hurt.
And, of course.. aggravate.
"Oh come now, and I'm the first? I don't know whether to be flattered or to accuse you of not trying hard enough."
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 10, 2009 10:14:57 GMT -5
Shockwave comes out about as badly in the encounter. He takes backlash from his own blast, and Starscream's ramming him right up the barrel cause the long furrow previous cut in the side to split. Shockwave likewise will not be using his alternate mode for the remainder of this battle. He is angry, horribly so, but he is not so blinded by his anger that he will allow himself to literally fly apart.
He transforms, with no small amount of pain and effort, and gets peppered with more null blasts. These are more minor annoyance than anything else, though, numbing parts of his body in small patches. They hurt, of course. But Shockwave learned how to move beyond mere pain vorns ago, thanks to Megatron's conditioning efforts.
Shockwave dodges the rest of the array, returning fire in kind as he tries to dart in and seize that other gun, try and damage it as he did the other.
"The first? Hardly, Starscream, and most certainly not the best. Do not consider yourself so high. Even now, it is less you and more that I am having a Very. Trying. Day."
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 10, 2009 14:46:47 GMT -5
Starscream ducks and weaves as Shockwave fires his shots, but his aerial maneuverability is starting to suffer. A couple peg him on nonessential bodyparts, but then there is a clear shot that catches him on his torso.
As Shockwave closes the distance, Starscream swivels his position in relation to Shockwave. This is half to keep his remaining arm rifle away from the purple cyclops, and half to swing his other hand forward in an uppercut motion.
Time to give Shockwave his next painful reminder of his leader's abilities: Just because Starscream prefers to rely on his agility firepower at range does not mean that he cannot rely on brawn when it is needed.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 10, 2009 21:20:01 GMT -5
The blow snaps Shockwave's head back, and it makes him pause just slightly in his attack. His head is one of his few vulnerable points, and that despite the armour shielding his optic. Still, he presses forward, returning Starscream's punch with a hard backhanded blow.
Shockwave has the advantage in strength and raw power. Starscream has speed and agility- and one very powerful kill weapon. The truth is, they are fairly evenly matched. At this point, it is just a matter of who decides to yield first.
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Starscream
Major
"Sometimes I can almost feel it!"
strangely enough, male.
Posts: 945
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Post by Starscream on Jun 10, 2009 22:46:02 GMT -5
And just like that, Starscream is reminded why he has been keeping Shockwave at a distance.The backhand is powerful enough to send Starscream spinning around and hitting the ground face-first, and leave (virtual!) portions of Starscream's head piece lying on the ground in front of Shockwave.
Oh well. At least that strike has granted some more distance. Starscream fires a few more shots at Shockwave as he gives himself some more.
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Post by Victoria Raines on Jun 11, 2009 10:10:34 GMT -5
Shockwave makes a sound of satisfaction as Starscream hits the ground, pleased to perhaps have finally (and perhaps literally) wiped the humor from the Seeker's face. Shockwave continues to press forward, letting his armour take the force of Starscream's lasers. Oh, the shots damage, and they hurt, but Shockwave has taken point blank shots from Megatron and been barely phased. Right now, he is more centered on finishing this.
He pauses in his movements to send two carefully aimed blasts at Starscream: one at the Seeker's functioning gun and arm, the other square in the middle of Starscream's chest. If the shots find their mark, Shockwave will attempt to close once more.
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