The Next Generation

C21: Revealing Duels

"Are you ready, Optimus?" Momo asked him a few minutes before their match was meant to begin.

Optimus nodded. "I am. You?"

She clenched her fist. "Yes. I'm going to beat you and prove my strength."

You see, that's the weird stuff Optimus was talking about earlier. They had a weird conception of strength.

"Good luck," Optimus told her before leaving to get to his terminal.

Optimus knew Momo's quirk, but that wasn't the dangerous thing about her. She was intelligent, a genius planner, and whatever she does on the arena today will have been carefully thought out. He needed to expect her to go after his weaknesses. Most of all, he needed to soil her plan. Stop her from getting her way. If she fought on her own terms, he wouldn't stand a chance.

He remembered a lesson Megatron taught him before the war. When your opponent is expecting, always do the unpredictable, and when they are waiting for the unpredictable, give them the expected. That was exactly what Optimus planned to do.

If Momo paid any attention to Optimus's fighting style, it was that he watched his opponents. He was slow, careful, and waiting for them to make the first strike before acting accordingly. She was going to try to take advantage of that pause, and Optimus could not let her. He needed to be swift and effective. No time for hesitation.

He approached the field and tuned out Present Mic giving their introductions. Momo and him examined each other, taking in the first glimpses of pre-battle preparation. Optimus stepped back and let her believe he would act as he always did.

The horn rang and Optimus immediately sprung into action. Momo didn't hesitate to form a sword and block Optimus's initial strike. He went in for a second, but noticed the glitter of her skin as something else took shape. Momo reached for it and Optimus backed off.

"You did exactly what I expected," Momo grinned. "You're always slow, so you prepared for me to know that, but I knew you knew that, so I prepared for you to come prepared."

Optimus's sword suddenly shattered in his servo.

Momo expected that too. It was all apart of her plan, but the next part she was a little worried about. It was a risk, but one she was willing to take. Recovery Girl was nearby, so Optimus would be okay. She reached down and pressed a button on the second item she created before throwing it through the air between them. It left a trail of thick black smoke behind it.

Optimus walked back, frowning at the substance quickly taking up their space. Present Mic was saying something about how Momo was taking the permission to play dirty to another level.

Unfortunately for her, Mr. Aizawa said Optimus had asthma. That wasn't true.

Optimus charged into the smoke, giving it no thought as he ran straight at where Momo had been before. He kept his steps light. It was easier to do now that he was made of soft materials instead of metal. Fighting in areas where the air was too thick to see through? Optimus had his fair share of experience.

Momo made a thick pole and hung over the top of the smoke, watching it swirl, and waiting until Optimus made his move. She gripped her sword and then jumped into the darkness, already swinging. She thought he would be weakened, struggling to breathe, and completely blind, but the moment she came down, there was a flash of silver as his other sword cut through the smoke. Momo was suddenly pinned to the ground with a blade inches from her throat.

"H- how did you—"

"Surrender," Optimus ordered.

She didn't have a choice. "I surrender."