F Rm 30

A Rm 30

S Ex 20

E Am 50

R Ex 20

I Rm 30

P Un 100

Res Ex 20

Pop Gd +10*

Health: Karma:

130 150

* Amongst humans, at least. Ex +20 to fellow Autobots, In -20 in regards to the Decepticons.

Origin:

As are the rest of his fellow Autobots, Hot Rod is an electromechanical entity of Cybertronian origin, a sentient robot that strives to prevent Decepticon domination of the universe. However, he can also be considered a little bit... more, thanks to his 'Targetmaster' union with the Nebulan, Firebolt...

Known Powers:

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

* Armor Skin: like most Cybertronians, Hot Rod was built (or formed) with a reinforced steel frame, one that offers him Excellent (20) resistance to injury. This makes him resistant to most basic human attack forms, and moderately resistant to his fellow robots. His defense breaks down as follows:

Ex 20 / Ty 6 / Fe 2 / Sh 0 / Sh 0

* Growth: most Cybertronians have some degree of control over their size, no matter what form they take. Due to his considerable height in his humanoid mode, Hot Rod has this power via technicality; he may very well grow somewhat while transforming, but doesn't appear to do so.

According to the standard Growth rules, Hot Rod has this power at Remarkable (30) rank, making him stand approximately eighteen foot tall. Since his Strength rank is lower, Hot Rod can use this rank as his Strength in his humanoid mode, though humans receive a +2 CS to hit him in combat.

The Ultimate Powers Book, however, gives Hot Rod this power at Typical (6) rank, making him out to be three times a normal human's size. This grants our reckless young hero a +1 CS to the Strength rank listed above, raising it to Remarkable (30), and grants him an extra ten Hpts as well.

According to the Transformers MSH Sourcebook, on the other hand, Hot Rod's statistics are geared towards mixing it up with beings of like size. As such, when fighting folks of normal human size, he should receive a +1 CS to the damage he inflicts upon them (+1 CS per 2 CS of growth).

Finally, per the Universal Heroes rules, Hot Rod has a +1 size factor. As such, he inflicts +1 CS damage vs normal human opponents, and has 1 CS of Damage Reduction against them. On the other hand, he is at a -1 CS to hit them in combat, while they receive a +1 CS to hit him.

* Invulnerability to Disease and Toxins: like all robots, Hot Rod is highly resistant to diseases and poisons that would kill organic beings. He possesses this resistance at Class 1k rank versus organic pathogens, and at Unearthly (100) versus more chemically creative substances.

* Microscopic / Telescopic Vision: all Transformers have the ability to alter their visual sensitivity as is necessary, where distance is concerned. Functioning at Feeble (2) rank, this power lets them see objects up to a mile distant with ease, as well as allowing them to read items on microfiche.

Binary Bonding / Gestalt: during his time on the planet Nebulos, Hot Rod developed a 'binary bond' with one of the native sentient humanoids by allowing him to be implanted into one of his weapons. By using this native, Firebolt, as his primary weapon, Hot Rod is apparently enhanced considerably.

Most of this power, of course, comes from the simple fact that Firebolt's energy discharges are much more powerful than Hot Rod's laser guns. However, it seems that binary bonding with organic beings causes a change, a transformation among Cybertronians, as happened with Optimus Prime.

Whether this evolution, wherein the Nebulan and the Cybertronian combine into a singular being, occurs with 'Targetmasters' as it does with 'Powermasters', though, has yet to be revealed. However, since Firebolt was gone by the time Hot Rod changed into Rodimus Prime, it may have occurred.

Unless Firebolt left Hot Rod's side - or was destroyed. Either way, while using Firebolt as his primary weapon, Hot Rod receives a +2 CS to hit foes - in addition to the bonus his Advanced Guns talent gives him. This alone is encouragement enough to do so, even before Firebolt's impressive firepower.

Circular Saw: when in need for some sort of cutting implement, Hot Rod can retract his left hand, and replace it with a spinning saw-blade. This blade is of Unearthly (100) m.s., and can be used to inflict his Strength rank in Edged Attack damage, or cut through items of that m.s.

Light Generation: Hot Rod has the ability to fire powerful laser beams from his chromed exhaust pipes in his humanoid mode, which rest on the outside of his wrists. These beams inflict Incredible (40) Armor Piercing Energy damage with every deadly blast.

Shapechange: Hot Rod's most infamous power, this ability allows him to switch between two forms - either his normal, humanoid shape, or that of a sleek, futuristic 'hot rod', at will. When in his vehicular form, Hot Rod possesses the following vehicular statistics:

C Rm 30

S Sh Z*

B Am 50

P Rm 30

* Hot Rod can achieve speeds of up to 330 miles per hour if necessary, though this is severely draining on his energy reserves (limiting his maximum range to a 'mere' 150 miles). Optimally, he settles on speeds ranging around 120 miles per hour (giving him a total range of 400 miles).

Equipment:

Laser Pistols: Hot Rod carries two laser pistols that he can fire to create, within the electronics of a foe, a sort of 'electromagnetic flux'. This has the effect of inflicting Incredible (40) Stunning damage to robots or vehicles. Both of these pistols are stored in a subspace pocket when they're not in use.

Quirks:

Impulsiveness 3: braver by far than most Autobots, Hot Rod is also incredibly impulsive - a combination of traits that serves to get him into trouble more often than not. He must pass a Psyche FEAT at -3 CS to resist the urge to act on any whim that strikes his fancy, should he wish to restrain himself.

Talents:

Advanced Guns: naturally, Hot Rod has shown an impressive mastery of most firearms of an advanced, energy-casting nature - he uses them to devastating effect against the Decepticons. As such, when wielding them (or even Firebolt), he should do so as though his Agility was +1 CS in rank.

Physics / Nuclear Physics 2: assuming that some sort of merger between Hot Rod and Firebolt indeed took place, it is likely that the young Autobot absorbed Firebolt's considerable talents in this area. If so, he should receive a +2 CS to all Reason FEATs concerning this area of science.

Pilot / Space: on several occasions, Hot Rod has shown that he is a competent pilot of various spacecraft - even surviving the various wrecks and crashes that he has been a party to. As such, when flying such a vehicle, he can make any necessary Control FEATs at a +1 CS.

Contacts:

Though he's one of the younger Autobots, Hot Rod has proven himself time and time again in battle - even if he caused some of the messes he's gotten himself into - and as such, can readily rely upon the assistance of his Autobot allies should he need it... especially against the Decepticons.

Likeness:

In his vehicular mode, Hot Rod resembles just that - a sleek, futuristic hot rod. This automobile is red, with a yellow spoiler, chromed exhaust pipes, and an orange flame job. In his humanoid mode, Hot Rod is similarly sleek, and appears to have been built from red, orange, yellow, and chrome auto parts.

Personality:

Hot Rod has the mindset of the stereotypical adolescent human, one who dreams of being important - and a hero. Furthermore, he's practically fearless, which (combined with his considerable impulsiveness) tends to get him into trouble. He's also personable and rather charismatic, when you get down to it.

Real Name: Hot Rod
Occupation: Autobot warrior, cavalier
Legal Status: Cybertronian citizen with no known criminal record on earth
Marital Status: inapplicable
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: the Autobots, the Targetmasters (Autobot sub-group)

Height: 18' (approximately)
Hair: inapplicable
Eyes: crystal blue
Weight: several tons
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Hot Rod is composed of a strong alien metal that is primarily red, orange, and yellow in hue.

Story:

Hot Rod's story began on the Decepticon-dominated streets of Cybertron. Along with a pack of Autobots led by Fortress Maximus, he fought a resistance movement against the evil Decepticons for a while, but as time wore on, his leader grew weary of the endless battles.

As such, he made clear his intentions to leave Cybertron once and for all, for a peaceful world he'd discovered called 'Nebulos'. This world, earth-like in nature, had been at peace for thousands of years, and Maximus felt that this would be the ideal place for him to spend the rest of his days.

He was joined by those under his command, including Hot Rod, though the arrival of the Autobots on Nebulos was not a peaceful one. Thanks to the scheming of various politicians on the planet, the Decepticons soon learned of the Autobots' presence on Nebulos, and they came looking for trouble.

Naturally, having surrendered their weapons to the Nebulans in a show of peace, the Autobots were somewhat outgunned. This caused the Nebulans to team up with several Autobots, combining their forms to become the so-called 'Headmasters' - Autobot bodies married to Nebulan-occupied heads.

The Autobots used the advantages of this binary bonding to great effect, only meeting their match when the Decepticons also merged with the evil Nebulans who made them aware of this world. With their Headmaster fellows in peril, the remaining Autobots needed assistance - fast.

As such, Hot Rod, along with several other Autobots, agreed to a binary bonding of a different sort; this form of bonding consisted of several Nebulans being bio-engineered into becoming the very weapons the Autobots would use to combat their Decepticon foes - and thus, the Targetmasters were born!

Possessing considerable power, these living weapons were more than a match for the Decepticons, who raced to duplicate the procedure themselves. However, by the time they had done so, the Autobots had come to the conclusion that the only way to spare Nebulos from their war was to leave - at once.

Their hopes for peace dashed, the Autobots returned to their spacecraft, leaving Nebulos forever - but instead of heading for home, they answered a call for help from Autobots on another world: Earth. Once they arrived, these Autobots eventually found their Earth-bound fellows, becoming a larger force for good.

Now based primarily on earth, Hot Rod and his binary-bonded partner, Firebolt, continued to assist in the war against the Decepticons, both on Earth and throughout the galaxy - when not on some sort of misadventure of their own devising, that is. Of course, this was not to last forever.

You see, it was revealed that the binary bonding that various Autobots and Nebulans underwent was a sort of continuing process, one that would ultimately end with the complete merger of both entities into a singular being; this occurred with Optimus Prime, a so-called 'Powermaster' himself.

Whether this also applies to Targetmasters has yet to be revealed. Either way, Firebolt eventually faded from view altogether, so perhaps this merger actually did occur, or Firebolt was slain somehow - or maybe he finally quit the eternal Autobot / Decepticon war. This left Hot Rod to his own devices, it would seem.

Regardless, Hot Rod's future seems to be bent on a path to greatness. You see, in various future timelines, he evolved (with the help of the Matrix) to become the one and only Rodimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. Of course, this path is not yet set in stone, but Hot Rod is a great hero nonetheless...

F Gd 10

A Rm 30

S Gd 10

E Rm 30

R Rm 30

I Ex 20

P In 40

Res Gd 10

Pop Fe 2

Health: Karma:

80 80

Origin:

Firebolt, also known as Sparks, is a humanoid being originating from the planet Nebulos (in some tales, they look just like humans, but in others they have green skin). He has been cybernetically and biologically augmented by Cybertronian technology to serve as Hot Rod's binary-bonded firearm.

Known Powers:

Cybernetics: Firebolt has been seriously augmented by both Cybertronian and Nebulan science, in order to serve as Hot Rod's rather impressive firearm. As such, this highly intelligent alien cyborg is possessed of the following technological capabilities and prowess:

* Armor Skin: the main visual change in Firebolt's body is that he is now covered in armor of Cybertronian make. He can remove this armor to feel somewhat human in nature, but requires it to use his powers. This is Good (10) armor, providing him the following protection from harm:

Gd 10 / Pr 4 / Sh 0 / Sh 0 / Sh 0

* Enhanced Skeletal Structure: accounting for his rather high Endurance score, this modification reflects the enhancement that Firebolt has endured to withstand the rigorous combat situations that Cybertronians usually engage in. His bones should be considered to be of Amazing (50) m.s.

* Self Sustenance 1: functioning on worlds with various (or no) atmospheres, Cybertronians rarely worry about the need to breathe - and thanks to his armor, Firebolt need not do so either. While he must still eat and drink (a lot) to survive, he need not worry about air while his armor is fully assembled.

* Shapechange: his most useful ability, this power allows Firebolt to transform his ordinarily humanoid body into a rather large firearm. In this form, he can (or Hot Rod can use him to) fire a burst of Amazing (50) intensity electricity, which inflicts like Stunning Energy damage with each blast.

Talents:

Physics / Nuclear Physics 2: Firebolt is one of the leading experts in this area of scientific experience on Nebulos, an earth-like world with technology somewhat in advance of that on Earth. As such, he should receive a +2 CS to any Reason FEAT roll required of him in this area of knowledge.

Contacts:

Naturally, Firebolt can rely upon Hot Rod as a contact - the two are partners, after all, and possibly inseparable. Furthermore, Firebolt can also count most of his fellow Autobot-aligned Nebulans as allies, not to mention the Autobots in general, in the event that he requires their assistance.

Likeness:

In his humanoid form, Firebolt is surrounded by a metallic suit of armor that is black on the torso and arms, gray on the legs and feet, and has a red, visored face plate. In his electrostatic discharge gun mode, he has twinned, gray gun barrels, and a black handle (for Hot Rod to hold him with).

Personality:

Firebolt was originally content to lead a life of quiet, scholarly pursuits - at least until the arrival of the Cybertronian war on Nebulos. Though he did so with some reservations, he nonetheless willingly agreed to become Hot Rod's binary-bonded partner, and is excited about the adventures he's having.

Continuity Note:

This description of Hot Rod follows the 'comic book' history of this Autobot; according to the cartoon / movie story, he became a Targetmaster after he was transformed into Rodimus Prime for a time. His abilities function exactly the same, though the reasoning behind them are a bit different...