Western Provinces - Canada Even larger than the Eastern Provinces, the land encompassing Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia covers over a million square miles, though these lands differ from the forests of the east. Here in the prairie provinces are the great wheat-growing fields as well as oil-rich plains extending to the western boundary of Alberta, a province rich in coal and natural gas as well as oil. Beyond that is a complex of high mountains and plateaus known as the Western Cordillera that span British Columbia and continue into the Yukon. This area is more temperate than the bitter cold of the north and east, but still gets plenty of snow in the wintertime. Streetwise drives cautiously into the mountain range, trying to point his sensors in all directions at once. No-one else was available to answer the call back at AHQ so he's been sent out alone. And he's not happy about it. A dark figure flies above the vast wheat fields of Alberta, his silhouetted contrasting against the blue sky and the white clouds above. The figure begins to descends and details fall into place...it is the Combaticon commander, Onslaught. Touching down near one of Alberta's many oil drilling stations, the Combaticon begins to survey the perimeter...already schemes begin to form. Streetwise slews around and comes to a halt in the shadow of one of the oil drilling rigs. He flips up into robot mode and summons his photon pistol from subspace. Peering around the side of the rig, he mutters to himself. "Ok, Streetwise. It's just Onslaught; all you have to do is get him away from the oil, and everything'll be fine." He smacks his forehead with his free hand, "Who'm I kidding?" He takes a deep breath and prepares to move. Despite the attention payed to the oil rig, Onslaught turns to the single access road as if he were expecting somebody to join him. The chilling gaze focuses on the lone Protectobot just as a thin smile appears behind Onslaught's mouth plate. "Why hello Streetwise...it is unexpected to see you here" the Combaticon says in greeting, his tone ominous rather then friendly. Streetwise sighs to himself and takes a step forward, weapon levelled at the combaticon's optics, "Save the pleasantries, 'Con. Just get out of here before I do something you regret." He knows he's hoplessly outclassed, but there's no way he can leave the humans in this area to Onslaught's tender ministrations. Onslaught locks his arms over his chest as he waits for the Protectobot's first move, his smile holding firm under his mouth plate, "Oh please Streetwise, spare me the usual nonsense. Why do you think I'm here? To slaughter those human beings you protect so blindly? You know me far better then that...it would be so unproductive." There is a sarcasm and sureness in the Combaticon's voice that may not sit well with the Streetwise...perhaps Onslaught has been expecting him? As if he had forgotten about the threat of Streetwise's blaster, the Combaticon continues with the conversation, "Where has Hot Spot been? I was most displeased when he did not appear at the Olympics. Did he remain behind to bow to the humans every want and need? Please say my long time nemesis is stronger then that." Streetwise flicks a switch with his thumb. The photon gun starts to hum ominously, "I don't give a damn why you're here, Onslaught. I don't care what you think you're going to do, you're not doing it." He growls, ignoring the jibes about his leader, "Leave. Now." He somehow manages to avoid trembling and keeps his aim steady. At first glance it may appear that Onslaught is here only to explore another target for the Decepticon forces. However, the sureness and arrogance that the Combaticon exhibits would prove otherwise. It was he who allowed the signal to reach the Protectobot...this is an evaluation of Streetwise rather then the oil rig. Still ignoring Streetwise's threats, Onslaught drops a hand to his side, summoning a subspace portal. From the portal, he produces a single, white finger which he flicks in the Protectobot's direction, "Tell me, how is Blades? Has he recovered since the last time I dismembered him? Tell him that I have eight more of his fingers if he is interested." Streetwise keeps his optics fixed on Onslaught, ignoring what he suspects to be a diversionary tactic. However, he starts to loose some of his composure, "You... you *ANIMAL*! No, scratch that; you've not even got enough decency to merit being called an animal." His hand starts to tremble slightly, "I swear, one day Blades is gonna nail you to the wall for what you did to him, and I'll be passing out the tacks. Now get the hell out of here before I do you so much damage you'll *WISH* I just took your fingers!" Streetwise is now trembling, but it's not with fear. Streetwise's anger on furthers the expansion of Onslaught's smile. He answers calmly, "Blades? Revenge? Not that traitor. He knows I could have easily destroyed him that day. But I allowed him to live...I have just begun to seek retribution for his desertion." It is then that the Combaticon waves a hand as if telling Streetwise to 'bring it on', "Now Protectobot, I am not complying with your orders, Protectobot. Fire at will...attack me...start a heated battle so close to the human populance. Willing to break your code of honor are you?" Before Streetwise can answer he is interrupted by another sarcastic jab, "My, my...won't Hot Spot be pleased." Streetwise growls, uncharacteristically savagely, "Hot Spot would be ecstatic if he knew you were nothing more than a pile of rusting scrap." He jabs a finger in Onslaught's direction, "And my 'code of honour' requires me to protect these humans from you. The way I figure it, the best way to do that is to blow your stinking head clean off your shoulders, rip out your laser core and put it back in it's box for ANOTHER four million years." He stops trembling and refocuses his aim on the Combaticon's head. He lets out a breath he hadn't known he was holding and much of his anger seems to subside. In a brief flash of inspiration, he has figured out what Onslaught is doing to him. "Now, if you're done trying to provoke me, get your ugly lower-chassis back under whatever rock you dragged it out of." The Combaticon's thin smile transforms into a cruel smirk as Streetwise responds, "My, my...don't you think highly of yourself. But at least you are willing to take a step that most Autobots would not. Eeeeexellent." Another subspace portal opens...this time it is but a flash of light. Armed with his sonic blaster in one hand and what looks like an explosive charge in the other, Onslaught thrusts over to the nearest oil rig. Once the charge is in place, the timer is set and it begins to beep ever second that passes. Slowly advancing toward Streetwise, Onslaught rumbles, his voice much darker then before, "Now Streetwise, let's take this yet another step. Do you have what it takes to save the day? Do you have what it takes to be a..." The last word rings out, the Combaticon's voice filled with contempt, "...hero." Streetwise's eyes widen as the charge is set. "You sonova...." he snaps off a shot at the Combaticon's optics before leaping forward and folding down into his car mode. The Combaticon's smirk remains to mock Streetwise as he opens fire, "Not good enough." Still marching toward the subject of his evaluation, Onslaught waves a hand, dispersing the low frequency light beams. In seconds, the sonic blaster rises to retaliate, artillery shells spewing out the barrel. Each scream through the air...their sound enough to break the resolve of even the best of warriors. It is an effect the Combaticon mastermind has perfected over the ages... Streetwise swerves between the shells and drives straight for the rig, unconcerned that Onslaught is blocking his way... Onslaught's legs are uprooted and is sent over the hood of the oncoming vehicle. Upon hitting the ground, the Combaticon finds each of his metallic boots have been cracked...his smile quickly twists into a sneer. Turning onto his belly, Onslaught trains his aim on the police car in an attempt to keep the Protectobot from reaching the explosives. A pull of the trigger results in a wave of sonic energy which washes toward Streetwise with the sound of a thousand angry drums. Streetwise winces as he slams through Onslaughts legs, but grins to himself as the large robot takes a tumble. He veers to the left, and the sonic wave blasts to one side of him. He flips up into his robot mode and grabs the explosive charge from the side of the rig... which he promptly flings towards Onslaught with a cry of "Catch!" +ooc can I try shooting at the explosives? Streetwise pulls his photon gun from subspace again and draws a bead on the demolitions pack, "Careful...." he mutters to himself as he squeezes the trigger. The bead lands on Onslaught for just a moment...but suddenly, he engages his thrusters as he lunges forward allowing the explosives to hit the ground. Amazingly enough they do not explode. With the added power of his thrusters, the Combaticon puts an elbow forward, one which he hopes to drive through Streetwise's cranium. Streetwise dodges nimbly to one side and tries to hit Onslaught in the back of the head as he passes, hoping to knock him off balance. The blow hits its mark and sends Onslaught's head into the oild rig. That's smarts. A fracture line begins to travel through the Combaticon's helmet...with his sneer molded in place it is clear that he is angry. Clasping his fists together, Onslaught turns, swinging the double fist in rage, "You luck will soon run out, little one!" The punch connects with Streetwise's jaw, and he is sent flying backwards throught the air. He takes a second to click his jaw back into it's socket, and then transforms before he hits the ground. He drives for Onslaught, firing his compressed air cannon at the larger robot. Again, the Combaticon is sent back into the oil rig, his shape being set in the out wall. Breaking out of the Onslaught mold, he realizes the damage, a nice long fracture line on his turret...a low growl escapes Onslaught's now clenched teeth. It is then that the Combaticon transforms... The Combaticon drops to the ground and the transformation sequence begins. Limbs attach to the body and the turret slides into place with a mechanical 'Clank'. Onslaught is now in his missile trailer mode. With the Protectobot in such close quarters to him, Onslaught cannot use any ranged weapons...so he intends to go up and over the smaller vehicle! Once the missile trailer's engines rev to a audio splitting growl, the Combaticon commander charges forward, eager to crush the Streetwise's hood with his weight. Streetwise cries out in severe pain as the Combaticon drives over him. The cry turns into a yell of fury as he transforms yet again and jumps onto the back of the trailer. He makes his best effort to hang on for dear life. grasp onslaught Streetwise succeeds in grasping Missile trailer, throwing it off-balance. Enraged by the added weight of the Protectobot, Onslaught begins to swerved in an attempt to get the cling on off. With no success, the assult vehicle begins to transform...during mid transformation a large metallic boot comes in the direction of Streewise's face... Streetwise swings his way off the back of the trailer and lands several feet behind Onslaught, facing him. He tries again to dazzle Onslaught with his photon gun... The shot strikes home, tearing away at the Combatiocn's chest plate. Fragments of metal drop to the ground and a short sizzle sounds from Onslaught's circuits...it is a sizzle that is quickly silenced by his fury. Leveling is weapon at the Protectobot, Onslaught attempts to stun his opponent, using an assault of sound rather then light. Streetwise's audio circuitry is completely overloaded, causing feedback into his other systems. He claps his hands to his head and drops to his knees... Instead of continuing his attack, Onslaught turns his attention to the explosives that continue to beep not far from the oil rig. What is the Combaticon planning? A few quick bursts from the sonic blaster answer that question...surely it is enough to make the entire oil rig go KA-BOOM. Not matter what Streetwise can do...it's over. But instead, the charge shatters into tiny different peaces. A dud? Unfortunately, no. Now loaming over his fallen opponent ominously, Onslaught emits with slight amusement, "Yes, there was no realy threat to the humans. But from now until your end you will ask yourself..."What if?"...what if I had chosen to bring a realy threat here. You would have failed and the humans would be nothing but boiling flesh. Even now, I could level this area if I felt inclined to...but instead I shall leave you with your doubts. Doubts that will plague in every battle you enter." Streetwise glares at Onslaught, but says nothing. He's always had doubts, whenever he goes into battle. This doesn't change anything except how low Onslaught figures on his moral scale. And instead of sending Streetwise to the pit, Onslaught takes to the air, his thrusters launching him skyward, "And so I shall now. But have no fear...you are not alone...you still have your doubt." Onslaught bows, "Thank you. Thank you."