Chapter 9: Autobots

Drift heard about a Decepticon ship full of Autobot prisoners arriving on a planet. With some help, he is able to get access keys to the loading docks. With everything he needs, Drift is able to access the ship undetected.

As Drift came closer to his goal, there were a group of Decepticon soldiers around the corner of the hall. He readies himself to ambush the group when-

BOOM

An explosion made a giant hole in the wall of the ship and a group of Autobots came in.

"Clean 'em up," orders the aqua colored Autobot with a cigar in his mouth that Drift realizes is the leader of the group. "We've got work to do."

"So much for quiet," Drift quietly mumbles to himself.

Then, Decepticon guards arrive to investigate the scene and spot Drift. He and the group struggle against the guards, but are able to defeat their oppressors. Drift tries to creep away from the group; however-

" You! What are you doing here?" the leader of the group asks.

With no other options, Drift answers, "I was attempting to sneak in to free the captives on the ship until you interfeared."

"Yeah, I don't so subtle," the leader remarks. "By the way, the name is Kup."

"This is extraordinary!" a red Autobot gasps in astonishment. "You have been upgraded recently. Reconfigured, but in a manner I have not seen used in centuries, yet the technology is completely comparable with—Whose work is this?"

"I'm surprised you deduce about my upgrades with only a glance," Drift muse.

"That's Perceptor and you don't know the half of it." Kup told the newcomer before giving out new orders. "New guy, you're with us. We gotta talk once this is through. Keep to the back and-"

"Actually, I believe it is best that I take the lead," Drift interrupts. "I don't mean to offend you, but I'm here for the same reason as you, and I can take you right to the captives."

Kup agrees with Drift and lets him lead. Drift told the others where the prisoners are most likely kept. If they cut a piece of the wall off, they can get the prisoners out. Perceptor's job is to keep the door locked to prevent any more security from interfering with the plan; however, there is always a chance for a plan to fail.

"They're here!" Perceptor exclaims as he tries to keep the locks secured on the door. "It appears they're attempting to break through my locks."

"Hold 'em off long enough for us to cut through the wall," Kup commands.

Then, the room suddenly became quiet as Perceptor stop struggling with the lock. The Decepticons stop attempting to go through the door. As Perceptor explains out loud of the situation, Drift unsheathed one of his swords. Drift knows that when a hectic situation suddenly becomes silent, something is about to happen- and it is usually bad.

Drift's theory came true as a large laser beam broke through the lock and severely damages Perceptor. Then door opens, revealing Turmoil and several other solders.

"Rambling gives your position away," Turmoil says. "Amateurs."

Both sides are fighting each other. Drift tries to take this opportunity to rescue Perceptor whom is about to killed by Turmoil. Drift strikes onto his former boss first before Turmoil could kill his captive.

"Get back here!" Kup shouts, worried that the orange samurai could get killed.

Drift explains," I came here to save lives. If there's the slightest chance, that's what I'll do."

Turmoil tries to blast Drift, but he is able to dodge the lethal blow.

Turmoil realizes, "You. I know you. Your voice." Drift quickly ran back to Kup and the other Wreckers as Turmoil raises his cannon. "Deadlock, you Decepticon traitor!"

Tumoil fires his weapon at the floor close to where Kup and Drift are standing. The floor crumbles below causing both Drift and Kup to fall into the hole.

The two bots manage to land safely onto the room below despite the fall. Now that Kup knows who he was, Drift can only hope that he gives him a chance to explain.

Kup speaks, "So you are a Decepticon. Deadlock."

"No," Drift replies calmly. "I no longer call myself by that name."

"That's helpful," Kup sounds relived to hear the reply. "Considering Deadlock happened to have slaughtered quite a few Autobots. All that slaughter and you're looking for a second chance."

"I have already received it." Drift is relieved that Kup, an Autobot, is taking this meeting calmly despite his past. "I'm looking to redeem myself by making a difference in this war with the chance I am given."

"I know about second chances. We better get a move on."

"Wait." Drift gets Kup's attention, "Though I'm not an Autobot. But how would you feel about bringing this dishonorable ship into pieces?"

Kup listens to Drift's plan. The other Wreckers escape the ship while Kup and Drift found their way to the main control room. Once there, Drift accesses the power generator controls.

"Almost done. The ship will be forced to achieve orbit. Sometime between now and then this will overload and tear the ship apart," Drift explains as he types in the rest of the code.

"You know an awful lot about this place."

"I served under Turmoil," Drift replies to Kup's remark. "Second in command."

Kup returns to the main subject. "The others have made it out. Springer is bringing our ship around. We jump from a height and he can scoop us up."

Drift types in the last of the command. "It is set. We need to act quick-"

Suddenly, a plasma blast breaks through a wall. Turmoil appears as the smoke clears.

"Go!" Drift orders Kup. "I'll take care of this."

Before Kup could object, Turmoil blasts at them. Though the attack misses, the shock wave knocks Kup into the open escape hatch, where they plan to jump off to the ship, leaving Drift to deal with his previous leader.

"I thought you'd died, Deadlock," Turmoil sneers as he approaches his opponent. "I thought I've never get this chance."

"You are right. Deadlock had died long ago for my name is now Drift." Drift draws out both his swords and charges at Turmoil.

His past superior questions "Is this how it works? You kill for us, now you kill for them? How pathetic."

Drift slashes one of his swords across the enemy's chest. Then, he thrust both blades into both of Turmoil's armpit areas.

Drift took this opportunity to explain his motives to the Decepticon.

"We're going about this the wrong way. All of us! After countless centuries of fighting, the Autobots are a step away from what we were when all this started. And us- the Decepticons have become something worse than any of us could have imagined."

Turmoil points out," They'll never accept you. You're nothing but a ruined outcast." Drift pulls his swords from the enemy's armpits. Energon bleed out of Turmoil's wounds, and they are deep enough to render his arms nearly useless. "Go ahead then. Kill me. Prove you're nothing more than what you were when you left. It's what you came here to do."

"I know what I came here to do," Drift said to his former commander and left to find Perceptor as the ship is beginning to self-destruct.

When Drift found the injured Wrecker, he immediately picks him up and goes to the side of the ship. There, Drift draws one of his swords and slashes the side to make an opening for them to escape from the crumbling ship. As they are falling, the Decepticon ship explodes in a huge ball of fire. Another ship, which Drift knows Springer is piloting from Kup's explanation, flies over to catch Perceptor and his rescuer.

Later, on the ground, the Wrecker team and Drift settles down after their mission. Kup offers Drift some repairs and an invitation to join the team. Though Drift accepts the repairs, he respectfully declines joining the Wreckers.

Kup responds," It's all right. I respect your decision not to join us, but would you at least wear the Autobot symbol?"

Drift is thankful that he respects his choice; yet, he is not sure about the leader's new offer. This transition can make him be hated by both sides. The Decepticons will hate him because what he became as the Autobots may hate him for what he had done in the past.

"I'd be honored if you at least join the Autobots," Kup adds.

Honor. A word Drift is familiar with. With the goal of redemption in mind, he replies," I accept your offer."

When the repairs are done and the badge is placed on his shoulders, Drift left as the newest member of the Autobots. After the experience with Ronin, Drift preferred to work alone and become somewhat of a pacifist during the rest of the war. He only would act if there is injustice and feels he should get involved.

It seems that becoming a wandering warrior is Drift's destiny, but another path will open to him after the war is over.


This is a long chapter. I hope it is worth the wait. Based this one on Spotlight: Drift comic.

I have one more chapter before I complete this story and I'll give you a hint. It involves two minicons.