Sideways

Strength 7c

Agility 11c

Intellect 11d

Willpower 13x

Hand Size: Edge:

4 (25) 2

Origin:

Though a late arrival on earth compared to his fellow Autobots, Sideways is also a heroic warrior from Cybertron. An alien, electromechanical entity, Sideways nonetheless strives to use his impressive abilities to help protect the squishy people of earth from the 'con scourge.

Powers:

Cybertronian Physique: like his fellow Autobots, Sideways is a robotic entity of Cybertronian design and origin. As such, this nimble scout has, by his very nature, the use of a large variety of abilities that reflect this. His very body gives Sideways these super-human powers:

* Body Armor (s): made (or formed) from primarily metallic materials, Sideways is considerably durable. His sturdy, inorganic composition affords Sideways intensity 4 (+1) protection from attack, enough to make him strongly resistant to most lesser assaults.

* Microscopic + Telescopic Vision (w): all Transformers can alter their visual sensitivity where distance is concerned. Functioning at intensity 2, these powers let Sideways see objects up to a mile distant with ease, and allow him to read items on microfiche.

* Radio Transceiver (i): as are most Transformers, Sideways is equipped with an audio / video transmission system. This communications rig allows him instant contact with any other Cybertronian within a wide radius of his person, having intensity 7 range (100 miles).

* Resistance / Invulnerability to Disease and Poison (s): as an inorganic life form, Sideways possesses complete immunity to poisons and organic diseases. He also possesses intensity 30 (+7) resistance to more chemically creative forms of disease.

Energon Buzzsaw (i): mounted on his right wrist in his humanoid mode, this powerful weapon can be used by Sideways to inflict an amount of damage that belies his small (compared to most Cybertronians) size. This weapon inflicts intensity +5 energy damage per deadly strike.

Headlight (i): to better emulate earth vehicles, most automotive Transformers on earth are equipped with at a convenient set of headlights. Sideways only uses one though, a lamp that generates intensity 8 illumination, making driving at night no problem.

Shape Change (a): Sideways can transform between his humanoid and Yamaha GTS1000A motorcycle mode at will, and often does so in battle for tactical purposes. This power is voice-activated, however ('Sideways, Transform!'). He moves at intensity 7 speeds in his 'cycle form.

Hindrances / Augmentations:

(none)

Equipment:

(none)

Skills:

Boxing (s): more of an observer than a direct warrior, Sideways is nonetheless trained in various combat arts - if only to escape once he's found out. He may divide his pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee attacks, the last of which will occur as a contingent action.

Detective / Espionage (i): crafty enough to do a Spychanger proud, Sideways is well-versed in information gathering techniques. A scout by trade, he excels at uncovering information about the various 'cons active on earth, and be able to return it in time for it to be useful.

Energy Weapons (s): as it's integrated into his very body, Sideways has naturally learned the ins and outs of his peculiar 'energon buzzsaw'. When wielding it, or any other semi-solid energy weaponry (like a light saber), Sideways may do so at a reduced difficulty level.

Martial Arts (a): though he can simply hit people if necessary, Sideways' true talent lies in the 'art' of combat - in other words, its graceful movements, control of oneself, and the like. He can strike unarmed, dodge attacks or catch thrown weaponry with reduced difficulty.

Stealth (a): while he doesn't really practice the illicit portion of this skill, per se, Sideways is more than adept at sneaking around undetected - he's got an almost supernatural knack for it, really. Whenever attempting to move undetected, he should do so at a reduced difficulty level.

Contacts:

As an Autobot, Sideways can obviously rely upon his fellows for assistance in a pinch - if they know he's around. With him being on scouting missions, one never knows exactly where he's at! He also presumably has various off-world contacts to supply him info on enemy movements.

Calling:

Investigator, with a secondary calling of Guardian: while he's seemingly rather shifty, Sideways is a good fellow - he only uses his underhanded (by Cybertronian standards, at least) skills to protect his fellow Autobots from harm at the hands of their many, evil enemies.

Likeness:

In his vehicle mode, Sideways perfectly resembles a Yamaha GTS1000A motorcycle, one that's mostly yellow in color, with black trim and chromed in places. In his humanoid mode, he appears to be a robot built from various motorcycle parts arranged in a most curious fashion.

Personality:

Unlike many other Autobots, Sideways is very self-sufficient. He's not big on teamwork, and usually too proud to lean on others for help - much less take them along during missions. While he could work well with the Spychangers, for instance, he's simply used to being a loner.

Real Name: Sideways
Occupation: Autobot scout
Legal Status: citizen of Cybertron with no known criminal record on earth
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: the Autobots

Height: 6' (approximately)
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: white
Weight: 553 lbs (approximately)
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Sideways is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily yellow and black in color, with bits of chromed material in places. His humanoid form - especially in the face - has a distinct 'ninja' look to its construction.

Story:

Sideways is a highly skilled Autobot scout, one who excels in ferreting out various Predacon / Decepticon shenanigans before they can affect his allies at all. He's also a highly skilled combatant; while not a warrior, per se, he sometimes needs to fight his way out of enemy territory.

He was happy to continue in this capacity on Cybertron, but was called upon for a special mission on earth once a grave threat to the Autobots emerged. You see, the Predacon known as Megatron had traveled there to find the long-lost Autobot, Fortress Maximus - and he had succeeded!

The trick was that Maximus' clever defenses kept moving his inert body from place to place once he'd been found. As such, the Autobots needed his skills to help predict where Maximus would emerge next - or to at least find him once he'd done so - before Megatron and his cronies could.

Arriving on earth, Sideways adopted a form suited for his particular mission: a Yamaha GTS1000A, a nimble, high-speed vehicle that mirrored his own capabilities. He then got on with his job, helping Optimus Prime and his many subordinates locate Maximus each time he moved.

And he moved a lot. During many encounters with his minions, and Megatron himself (both before and after his transformation into the diabolical Galvatron), Sideways was instrumental in getting the Autobots to Maximus before the villains could take control of the massive, robotic fortress.

Ultimately, the Predacons and Decepticons on earth were defeated, leaving the Autobots without a pressing need to stick around. This suited Sideways fine, for he prefers Cybertron to earth anyway. As such, he gleefully returned home shortly after the battle for Maximus had ended.

What he's up to these days has yet to be revealed...

Continuity Snarl:

Various sources of information about Sideways released long after the end of the Robots in Disguise line seem to strongly infer that every version of Sideways in every toy line that has existed since RiD's story ended are, in fact, the exact same character.

And not in the 'alternate reality' kind of way, either. No, supposedly the Sideways extant in the Robots in Disguise continuity is also the minion of Unicron present in the Armada and Cybertron stories, and the Decepticon from both Transformers Animated and the Revenge of the Fallen film!

Try not to think about how any of this remotely makes sense - lest you lose the last frayed shred of your sanity!

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