AN: Hi. Sorry for not updating a long time. I have been on a trip and I just started working this week. Anyhow, here's the Chapter
"Enjoy the moments before little birds fly from their nests."
AshStar was meditating, while Drift trained Jetstorm and Slipstream. Usually, Ash would be training too, but she is advanced than mini-cons, not to mention she has learned much more Star things that made her more advanced. But she knew why Drift trained his mini-cons. He wants them to be ready. This made her remember the time when they arrived.
One day when Ash Star arrived at Drift's place she was surprised to see the two mini-cons. Such as much they were surprised to see her. In this, Drift explained to her their story and since he once told her his, she was okay with it.
AshStar kept meditating, while Fixit was wiring up Sideswipe and Grimlock for another combiner experiment. Despite Sideswipe's misgivings, Fixit presses the button, and after an explosion, they end up with Sideswipe's torso atop Grimlock's dino mode Flame and Gaia passed out because of that, while Young tried to wake them up. Then Strongarm arrives with Aqua.
"Lieutenant. It looks like human scientists have recovered the Shanix coins Crustacion was after. Aah!" Strongarm said before noticed Sideswipe and Grimlock combined.
"And how's your day going?" Sideswipe asked.
"Well, I know how they feel," Aqua said meaning Flame and Gaia who started to recover.
"We better get those coins back before some human connects them to Cybertron and wonders if there are Autobots on Earth again." Bumblebee said.
"The Shanix are being held at the Natural History Museum. We can... Huh?" Strongarm said before She's interrupted by Jetstorm and Slipstream sparring, while Drift is unimpressed with their performance.
"Jetstorm. Slipstream. Stop dancing. Engage as instructed." Drift ordered. Jetstorm and Slipstream tried to engage, but only managed to hit on themselves. " That is not how I instructed you. Do as you were taught, and only as you were taught." Drift said.
"Hey. They've proven themselves. I thought you were okay with them going off-script now and then." Bumblebee said.
"They are still my students and I am still their teacher. And students obey their teacher." Drift said.
"That's rough," Young said.
"It's the way to survive and learn," AshStar said still in her meditation pose. "You need to learn to survive and face the world. For that, you must know when going off-script and when listen to your teacher."
"Right..." all Stars said.
Right then, the alarm went on and everyone went close to command center to see what was going on. All except Sideswipe and Grimlock, since they couldn't move.
"I'm reading a Decepticon ship entering Earth's atmosphere," Fixit said and show an image of the ship.
Drift recognize the ship.
"Students. Un-deploy."
"Drift, do you know this ship?" Bumblebee asked.
"The pilot and I have a history." Drift said. Ash gasped hearing this, while looked the image of the ship. Now other Stars were confused.
"The ship has cloaked itself to avoid human detection methods. But I can still track it." Fixit informed.
"If you have intel on this 'Con, I expect you to share it." Bumblebee said.
"He is dangerous. If we confront him, my pupils should not participate. For their own good." Drift said.
"Including our sister? Isn't she your student?" Aqua asked.
"I'm advance one. I can handle this."
"No, Ash. It would be best if you do not participate either." Drift said.
"What?"
"Lieutenant. It appears the Decepticon ship is on a trajectory to touch down close to here." Fixit informed.
"Set GroundBridge coordinates for that ship's landing site." Bumblebee said.
"What about the Shanix?" Strongarm asked.
"We'll have to deal with that later. When can we expect Sideswipe and Grimlock to be back to normal?" Bumblebee asked before there was huge thump and Sideswipe and Grimlock were back to themselves.
"I can see. It's a miracle."Grimlock cheers.
Gaia was about say something before Flame looked at her sternly.
"Don't even think about it," she said.
In time groundbridge opens into the middle of the forest and team Bee comes through it. Everything looks calm until they spot the ship landing.
"Drift. Any information you have on the pilot now's the time." Bumblebee reminded.
"His name is Shadow Raker. He trains wayward bots to steal for him, in exchange for shelter and protection. He calls them his Shadows. His pleasure in corrupting the innocent is matched only by his greed."
"Charming."
"You think we should call Elena to help us?" Young asked.
"No way. She is…" Ash tried to say before Drift interrupts her.
"I believe it would be best. In case, something goes wrong, I trust that she can stop him."
"Seriously?"
"Ready for an ambush, team." Bumblebee said before they noticed ship's open its doors.
"Shadow Raker's strongest defenses will be at the entrance hatch. Come. I know another way in." Drift said.
"Drift, any idea why he's on Earth?" Strongarm asked.
"I suspect for personal business," he answered, in which Ash swallowed loud to hear that. Even other Stars could feel how uneasy this situation is. So, they left a message to Elena, before they moved forward.
Soon they were inside the ship.
"Let's fan out and sweep the ship." Bumblebee said.
"Use caution. Shadow Raker fights without honor." Drift reminded.
"Understood. Grim, stay here, in case Raker tries to sneak out."
"On it like polish on armor, Bee," Grimlock said before they slip.
While walking Ash was feeling uneasy and Drift could notice it.
"If you let fear take over you, Shadow Raker will use it against you without mercy." Drift told her.
"I'm not afraid of him," Ash said. "It's just that he obviously will spill out the past."
"And you fear it will affect on how you Sisters will react to me?"
"You know, Elena already had a thing against Bounty Hunters when you first met. If she hears that you were…."
"Drift, Shadow Raker is in the maintenance shafts...WHOA!"
Ash gasped hearing that. She quickly checked her Star connection to see if her sisters were okay. Luckily, they were.
"It's clear Shadow Raker wants to handle this privately." Drift said.
"Or more like making sure we won't have any backup," Ash said while pulled out her sword. Drift did the same and both were ready for any attack.
"Remember, when he comes, You stay out of it." Drift remind.
"But, Sensei I…."
"Do as I told." He said in stern voice.
Ash knew not to talk back when he used that voice. They both remind prepared until Ash noticed a huge bug on the roof and landing close to them. In this, she yelp, in which Drift turned around and noticed Shadow Raker.
"My long lost student I have come for the things you took from me." Shadow Raker said pulled out his sword. Drift was prepared to fight.
"Ash, remember what I told you." Drift said to her. Ash wanted to protest, but now it's not the time for that.
"You shouldn't take things that don't belong to you, Deadlock." Shadow Raker said.
"I no longer answer to Deadlock. And I have nothing that is yours." Drift said before he charged, but shadow Raker was fast and dodge his strike and spit web to his optics. Still, Drift tried to attack again, but Shadow Raker managed to move behind and kick him to make him lose hold of his Sword.
"Sensei!" Ash shout.
"A Star as a student? Now how that is possible?" Shadow Raker mocked before pointed his sword at Drift, in which Ash gasped. Then they hear footsteps getting closer to them. Others were on their way there.
"Next time we meet, your new associates won't bail you out." Shadow Raker said before left.
Drift now tried to remove the web from his optics when others came.
"Easy, Drift, easy." Bumblebee said. "Where's Shadow Raker?"
"Escaped." Drift said. "He knew I'd be waiting at this exit and was prepared for me."
"How do you know so much about Shadow Raker, Drift?" Bumblebee asked.
"I was once one of his shadows. Before I found the proper path." Drift admitted.
"It's okay. We all have times in our past we'd rather forget."
"No kiddin'. Once, I was smashin' a spaceport and got my tail stuck in a plasma converter. Whoo. Did that smell." Grimlock tell.
"Ash, you knew about this?" Young asked.
"When we first met, Drift already decided to left Shadow Raker," Ash explained. "I was his first student."
"AshStar gave enough motivation to leave Shadow Raker and find proper path." Drift explained. " If it wasn't for her, who knows what I might have become."
"No sign of him, he must've scuttled off into the forest," Sideswipe said after checking the ship.
"Fixit, do you have a lock on Shadow Raker's 'Con signal?" Bumblebee called.
"It's currently stationary, sir. Uploading coordinates to you now." Fixit answered and Bumblebee picked up his holo-map, in which came the coordinates.
"Bingo. Let's go on a bug hunt." Grimlock said.
While continuing their walk to the location, Bumblebee and Drift were talking.
"I know you want to protect Slipstream and Jetstorm, but we might need the extra numbers once we find Raker." Bumblebee said.
"They are not ready for such a foe." Drift said.
"This is the kind of mission you've trained them for, Drift," Bumblebee said to him.
Drift thought a while, what Bumblebee said to him. In one way he had a point. He has trained JetStorm and Slipstream so, they can face most dangerous cons and Shadow Raker was one of them. But he was still worried if they will be captured by Shadow Raker. He looks on Ash who is equally worried as he is. She has already faced force cases, so maybe she should at least handle it. And maybe if something happens she can look after his students. So, it's now or never.
Drift deploys Jetstorm and Slipstream.
"Remain near me. Take no action without orders. And something goes wrong, Ash is in charge" Drift said.
Ash and mini-cons were bit confused, but what now matter that they can help now so that accounts.
"Yes, Teacher," JetStorm said before they followed him.
While walking, Young and other Stars came close to Ash.
"Ash, since you know what's going on, could y6ou at least tell us?" Young asked. Ash thought a while before she decided to tell. Better tell to someone.
"Few cycles after Drift left Shadow Raker, he picked new shadows under his control. We found them trying to steal some stores until Drift recognized who they worked for. As knowing how cruel Shadow Raker is, he took them under his wing and became their teacher." Ash explained
"Teacher? Are you saying..." Gaia asked while pointing mini-cons.
"Yes. And now Shadow Raker is after Drift to get Jetstorm and Slipstream back."
"But they don't return to him, right," Aqua said.
"I don't think he would care," Ash said.
Soon they all stopped.
"Let's split up. We'll cover more ground." Bumblebee said. and so they all did, while Stars activated their Star outfits and followed their bots.
Some time past, but nothing has happened. Ash was already having the feeling, that Shadow Raker is making sure others won't come to help them.
"Sensei..."
"I know" Drift said to her indicating that he is suspecting same what she is. "Pupils. Stay close. Enough games, Shadow Raker. Face me honorably, if you dare." he called, but right then Shadow Raker came behind them, which made all four wary.
"Shadow Raker." Jetstorm and Slipstream said recognizing their Ex-master.
"I seem to recall you were the one who abandoned me, Deadlock. Now, how was that honorable?" Shadow Raker asked.
"My name is not Deadlock.
"And you stole these two from my tender care when you left." Shadow Raker said pointing the mini-cons.
"Tender? More like 'do it or die' care" Ash said.
"Now that sounds rude and weird." Shadow Raker said. Ash showed her tongue for disrespect. "Honor dictates you return them to me and that you all receive punishment for your betrayal."
"They are not property." Drift said while charged. But Shadow Raker manage to block his strike.
"Master. Let us assist you." Slipstream said.
"No. Do only as you are told." Drift said.
"As I always taught you," Shadow Raker said before he managed move swords away and strike. "Concern for others is folly and often fatal," he said while tried to strike and while Drift blocks them. Drift looked on his students, hoping they could go and find others.
"Don't look for your friends to help Deadlock." Shadow Raker said. Ash gasped hearing that.
"My name is Drift!" Drift shout while charged at him.
"How can we aid our teacher when he will not permit us to fight?" Jetstorm asked.
"We will find another way." Slipstream said.
"Another way..." Ash said to think a bit what she learned from Elena.
Flashback
In one Dojo in Faixan, Elena shows some moves to the students, while Ash sat aside.
"And that's how you handle bigger opponents," Elena explained.
"But what if you can't fight?" one of the students asked.
"There's always another way. Ash, come here." Elena said.
"Okay," Ash said and steps to the ring.
"Try to attack me with your sword," Elena said to her.
"Seriously?"
"Just do it. I don't hear you complain when your master asks it" Elena said.
"Fine," Ash said and prepared herself. While she pulled out her sword, Elena takes a fan and moves it in front of her like a lady.
"Now watch carefully," Elena says to students. "I may have just a fan, but it will be all I need to remove her sword," she explained. "Ash, Attack!"
Ash charged her, but before she gets close to Elena, she moves away hit with the fan on Ash's hand to make her lose the sword and grabs it. All student are amazed.
"Did you just hit me?" Ash asked.
"Defended, actually," Elena said while returns her Sword back. "During serious matters, Know your Enemy's weakness and strength and trust your friends."
End of Flashback
Shadow Raker has managed to tie Drift to the tree.
"Sensei!"
"He has held you close in fear of losing you, as I did with him. Had I not, he'd still be at my side." Shadow Raker said.
"Shadow Raker we doubt it." Slipstream said before he and Jetstorm tried to charge him. But Shadow Raker spit his web on both of them.
"Do not touch them." Drift said.
"But I promised punishment for your betrayal It's only honorable to deliver on one's promises," Shadow Raker said.
"That depends is it a threat or swear," Ash said and tried to charge now. Shadow Raker spit his web at her, but she luckily managed to dodge first three.
"You are well trained." Shadow Raker said. "But I take you didn't learn from him."
"No, but it's something similar in here," Ash said before struck again, but this time shadow Raker managed to spit web on her leg and her hands, so she can't remove them.
"Since you're well trained, you might as well handle the punishment that was meant to him." Shadow raker said.
"No!" JetStorm said.
"Let her go!" Slipstream said. But Shadow Raker didn't care while picked all three.
"Well, Deadlock, I've enjoyed our little reunion.
"There is nowhere you can go to escape me. You cannot run far enough that I will not find you." Drift said.
"I suppose we'll see, won't we?" Shadow Raker said before transformed and flies away.
"SENSEI!" Ash shouted.
It didn't take long before, Shadow Raker arrived at his ship and prepared to take off. Before departing, Drift and Bumblebee tried to head to ship, only to come under fire from its cannons. The pair was forced to take cover and watch helplessly as the ship departs.
"Advanced cloak activated. My ship and I can no longer be tracked by anyone. Say farewell to Earth, Mini-Cons." Shadow Raker said. "And don't worry, young lady. I'm sure council will be pleased to have at least one Star back in Cybertron."
"The pleasure is all on them," Ash growled.
"Thank the Primes you came for me, Shadow Raker. Drift forced me to serve him."
"Slipstream!" both Jetstorm and Ash shout.
"Yes, you seemed quite conflicted when you and your little friend tried to kick my head off." shadow Raker said.
"That was for Drift's benefit. I learned to pretend to obey him so he wouldn't punish me. I can prove I am loyal to you."
"No. Do not tell him about the Shanix, Slipstream." JetStorm said.
"Jet!"
"Shanix?" Shadow Raker asked.
"Here. On Earth. And I know where." Slipstream said.
"How much Shanix?" Shadow Raker asked.
"Great! Now I know how elder sister felt in Decepticon island." Ash said.
In the nighttime, in Natural History Museum, Shadow Raker, mini-con, and Ash had got inside and found the Shanix.
"See, Shadow Raker? Just as I promised. And no Autobots." Slipstream said.
"Yes Slipstream, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership. It's not too late for you to be a willing participant, Jetstorm." Shadow Raker said.
"Never," Jetstorm said.
"Get Scraped and rusted," Ash said.
"Now that's not proper language for Star." Shadow Raker said.
"Tell that to the Elder sister," Ash said while they started to move out from the building.
"Keep it moving. The faster we can get that Shanix to my ship, the faster we can get off this backward planet" Shadow Raker said. Right then Autobots came along with Elena, who was wearing her Tamer outfit. "How? How did you set this all up?"
"We did not. They did." Drift said meaning his students.
"You lie and betray as well as your teacher." Shadow Raker asked angrily.
"Who learned from you?" JetStorm asked.
"Yes, you should be proud." Slipstream said.
"No wonder you don't have many students," Ash said.
"Hai!" mini-cons shout while hitting Shadow Rakers feet with the box full of Shanix, before all three run back to Drift and give him the box.
"Be a good beetle and come quietly. What do you say?" Bumblebee said.
"I have only one thing to say," Shadow Raker said before spitting lots of webs. All except Drift and his students.
"Ash!" Elena shout that made her turn around and look at her. "Remember!" Elena said and held her hand like she was holding a fan. In this Ash realize what she means. She activates her watch along with her keychain. Now she had a longer skirt and two swords. She long sleeves resembled like wings of Phoenix, and her long skirt the tail feathers. In this, she went to help her master to defeat his enemy.
Shadow Raker was outnumbered now. He lost hold of his sword and got struck.
"You have lost, Shadow Raker, both the Shanix and any remaining hold you may have had on me."
"You think me defeated? Hardly. Had you let me continue teaching you, you could have been my second in command. The legacy you might have had You do not know what you threw away." Shadow Raker said before threw his other sword at him, but Ash managed to dodge it.
"Let me educate you, Shadow Raker. The only thing I ever threw away was your influence. For that is what you do with trash." Drift said.
Shadow Raker decided to take chance and leave. But Drift deployed Jetstorm and Slipstream that hit right at Shadow Raker that he falls down knocked out.
"My students are my legacy. A worthy legacy. That ends the lesson."
Once Shadow Raker is secured in a stasis pod back in the scrapyard, Drift looks at his students.
"You allowed yourself to be captured in the first place?" he asked.
"We acted on our own, Master Drift. And though we stayed true to your teachings and loyal to you during our deception" Slipstream said.
"We did not seek your permission. We humbly beg forgiveness." Jetstorm said.
"You acted wisely and bravely, students. Your independent actions led to victory. Though I have told you in the past I trust you to act on your own, I have not put that into practice. It seems that I am still learning."Drift said.
"I believe we all are learning," Ash said.
Drift clears throat before continues. "Now, it is time for nightly patrol."
"We are ready to un-deploy, Teacher." Slipstream said.
"Unnecessary. You may patrol alone. If you feel ready." Drift said.
"We are almost ready. Our patrolling will be thorough and diligent." Jetstorm said
"We will bring you honor, Master Drift." Slipstream said before they left to patrol.
"I know." Drift said while showed a smile.
"They grow so fast," Ash said. That when she realized what she just said and picks the fortune of the fortune cookie. It meant them.
REVIEWS PLSS ^^
AN: There. I wish to make other chapters quickly, but I have work to do now. I hope I manage to do something on weekend.
