Across this Land -- The Streets of Cybertron

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Date Posted: 17:26:04 02/05/03 Wed
Author: Shaper
Subject: Across this Land
In reply to: Shaper 's message, "A Gathering" on 16:57:05 12/17/02 Tue

Shaper stalked across the plasma forge's basement and out of the shattered doors onto the streets. He cut a gaunt outline against the flames threatening to consume the lower torus of the Califrex City-State.

The unfolding inferno was reflected on the Transformer's skeletonal chrome face and a vexed hiss escaped his forked tounge and nightmarish mesh of needle-like teeth. Clutching the blade Unity wrapped in a wire mesh cloth he scoured the leaping flames with his violet eyes.

Large, skittering shapes appeared to move amongst the flames raging across the street. The opposite building shook, then collapsed disgourging three insectile Swarm drones. Shaper watched with interest as the creatures, each as long as he was tall, appeared to snuffle the flames with their sharp proboscis. Curiousity appeared in his fleshoptics as the flames surged along the the proboscis and vanished as if snuffled out.

The nearest, having 'consumed' the flames surrounding it turned a faceted eye towards Shaper and began to skitter forwards the lone Transformer.

"I think not."

Shaper tucked the bundled Unity under his left arm and produced a glittering black staff etched with flowing golden script from his robes. He spoke burning words of sharp and leaping accent causing a stream of silver arrows to pour from the staff into the chittering drone.

The swarm drone glistened for a moment like rippling pool of oil as the impacting energy bolts flared briefly on the creature's armour, then ran up its body and vanishing into the proboscis.

"If an energy attack fails perhaps one should fall back on crude, brute force. Do not mistake me, creatures. For I stand on home territory."

Again harsh synable peppered the air, Shaper this time plunging his staff a foot into the ground then tearing it out and thrusting it into the air.

The ground began to shake and quiver. Then it split as glittering metallic spikes ripped through the street floor and drove into the underbellies of the Swarm drone trio. Each creature flailed helplessly for a moment as multiple jagged spines punctured their bodies.

Shaper smashed the head of his stand on the ground and threw his cowl across his face as the pinned insectile invaders exploded in a shower of black plating, mandibles and razor pieces of metal.

Unfortunately the flames and struggle had attracted several clutches of the Swarm whom were converging on Shaper's position. He rose his staff horizontally above his head and called forth a translucent sphere that carried him off the street, above the lower torus, and away from the collapsing mound of spires and commerce that had once been Califrex.

* * *

The Swarm ignored the relatively minor speck of energy that was a lone Transformer leaving a veritable mountain of heat energy, disorganised natives and easy meat. Energy was energy, but the creatures appeared more interested in consuming the greater concentration of energy laid before it like starving heathens at a banquet.

Shaper fashioned a shoulder strap for the swaddled and bound freshly forged sword as he travelled, scanning ground for signs of organised resistance. Another wave of the Swarm forced him to alight in a nearby suburban zone and take cover in an alleyway until the Swarm passed overhead.

"Take my hand across this land,
Escape this all the hell inside.
Create this man to make my stand,
And break this hardened shell inside."

- 'Silver', Machinehead

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