"Fighting Fire" copyright 1997 by Dave Van Domelen Transformers characters TM Hasbro, Takara ============================================================================ I sized up my opponent. He was my equal in strength, in power, in skill. In determination he could be said to be my superior, but fortunately for me, he was also quite mad. "Galvatron!" I shouted. "You and I both know that only one of us can walk away from this fight!" "I do not know what sort of trick this is," Galvatron snarled, "but you will regret the insult you have given my by your very existence, pretender!" "And here I am without a shell," I smirked. If Galvatron was confused by my remark, it didn't show through the intense burning of his hatred and insanity. Galvatron raised his cannon arm to fire, but I saw the attack coming and was no longer standing my ground when the ground itself was reduced to monatomic dust. I returned fire myself, but Galvatron was canny enough to dodge my blast as easily as I had dodged his. We think too much alike, I realized. As much as I like to think I'm better than he is, we are more the same than we are different. And as we traded several more ineffective shots, I knew that if things continued in this vein, only sheer chance would determine who won this day. And I do NOT leave my victories to chance. There had to be some way to use our few differences against him. There were no others around, no allies or enemies to manipulate, although that worked against both of us. Still, it meant I couldn't use our different ways of dealing with subordinates to improve my position. A near-miss singed the finish on my left leg, turning the paint black, and diagnostic systems picked up the rise in local temperature. I ignored it, vaulting into the air to avoid another blast and peppering the ground near Galvatron's feet with my own attacks. We were too evenly matched in this. As mad as he is, Galvatron is capable of fighting intelligently when matters remain detached and distant. I would have to risk making him angry, and hope I survived his first mistake long enough to capitalize on it. "Give it up, Galvatron! Your time on the energy pools has scrambled your circuits. You're merely a shadow of the proud Decepticon who once ruled Cybertron with an omnium steel fist!" I sneered, putting as much condescension in my voice as I could manage. "No! You are the shadow, the Autobot trick to try and confuse me! But it won't work! I know you aren't who you look like...and I'll rip your face off with my bare hands to expose the real one underneath if I have to!" he shouted, leaping towards me with hands curved into claws, grasping at air. The fire in his eyes blazed like his fusion cannon...and was that spittle flying from his mouth, like an organic's? Calmly, I raised my arm and fired a single shot at his head, tearing it from his shoulders and reducing it to ashes. His body continued in its arc, arms flailing about, and bounced off my chest before falling to the ground in a convulsive fit. Another shot to the laser core stopped even that movement. Time seemed to freeze, and I disconnected from the SimNet, pulling my consciousness back into my real body. "All is well, Lord Galvatron?" my faithful lieutenant, Cyclonus, asked. "Yes, my friend. Once again I emerge victorious." Cyclonus knew me well enough that he didn't have to ask why I so obsessively practiced fighting my old self instead of the Autobot leader. Prime can be brought down by others if need be, but only I can defeat my own inner demons. Only I can fight the fire that smolders still in my soul. Only Galvatron can defeat Galvatron. ============================================================================ Notes: I've noticed a sharp rise in the "Who'd Win?" posts lately, and rather than point out how boring most of them are to read, I figured I'd give a counter example. Don't just say, "I think X could beat Y because of Z," turn it into a story, so it'll have a chance of being interesting to someone besides you.