CHAPTER 11

Russell's voice awoke them up. Despite the noise caused by the storm, both Minicons had managed to fall into recharge. But when the young boy gave a shake Jetstorm to wake him up, the Minicon thought there was a problem, someone was attacking them…He quickly drew his nunchaku, hiding panic taking over him.

"What's wrong, Commander Russell?" He asked, ready to fight by all means necessary.

Russell frowned.

"Seriously, Jetstorm…Stop calling me "Commander Russell". Okay. You miss Drift and you need his guidance, but still. I'm not a replacement."

"A replacement?" Slipstream repeated, yawning.

The boy rolled his eyes though he changed the subject.

"I wanted to tell you…The storm is over."

As soon as he finished his sentence, both Minicons jumped. At least, that was an efficient awakening. Jetstorm threw a glance at Slipstream who nodded.

"That means we have the green light for further research."

"Maybe should you wait for Bumblebee. He still sleeping" Denny advised them while bringing out cups of energon.

"We waited too long" Slipstream retorted.

"Then, Bumblebee isn't our Commander" Jetstorm added while running up the stairs to leave the cellar.

Once they are outside, the Minicons watched storm damages. Half of a roof had flown away whereas several scraps had tumbled. There was a big mess in the yard near the house. Denny let out a deep sigh. Jetstorm understood. Afterward, they would need backup to clean up. But for now, that wasn't their priority. They headed for the forest, weapons at hand.

"Be careful" Denny told them.

Slipstream turned around to smile back at him, before following his partner.

Not very far from them, there were two others Minicons also left their shelter. The storm didn't spare them either. They noticed a plenty of trees collapsed while cars had ended up in ditch. They weren't really affected by such a sight. After all, it wasn't their house and it wasn't their planet. Divebomb asked Airazor to follow him. The egg-shaped Minicon noticed his partner didn't let go of his hand. There was no awkwardness. That was like it was normal despite they never had felt any attraction to each other until the last night.

"About the boss…"

Divebomb didn't reply. He let Airazor talk.

"…Are we going to tell him? About…us?"

"I don't think that's the right time. I'm not sure he'll accept it. We better be discreet."

"It was so cool"

Divebomb smiled before kissing his cheek.

"It was cool. However, we shall hurry up."

He pulled Airazor closer to him, asking him to follow him.

Jetstorm and Slipstream scanned the forest, letting deep sigh whenever they couldn't find anything looking like their Master's shape. After a few hours, they were at a standstill. Jetstorm lost patience and threw his nunchaku on the ground.

"I have enough, Slipstream! We've been going round and round in circles!"

"Calm down…"

"No! I'm not calming down! We already came here! Bumblebee's team already came in this forest! I think we better should change our direction!"

Slipstream gave him a meaningful look. He needed to pull himself together.

"What about Steeljaw's base?" Jetstorm offered.

"We don't know where it is" Slipstream reminded him.

"He only can be there! If Fixit discovered a Decepticon signal, so…"

Jetstorm clenched his fists. Tension had reached its height. He was not in a place to think rationally. He was too worried for this… He glanced back at his partner. Fortunately, Slipstream was with him. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to go on.

"Drift wouldn't have let them capture him"

"But what other options do we have-?"

While Jetstorm was looking for another way, he suddenly caught sight of a shape. That was a quite tall and physically impressive shape hidden behind a tree. He narrowed his optics, stepping forward. This shape…he actually could see two swords at hand…

"Slipstream! That's Master Drift!" He cried out.

He didn't hear his partner. He ran to the shape with hope. He could hear Slipstream calling him back though he didn't care. He was self-assured! That definitely was Drift!

Master Drift was back! If he had been captured by Decepticons, he had managed to escape!

"MASTER DR—"

He didn't finish his sentence. He realized the shape already disappeared. He clenched his fists, open-mouthed. Slipstream stopped behind him.

"He wasn't there, Jetstorm"

"But…I thought I saw him. I swear…but this shape…it just disappeared…"

He looked down, sighing. He felt Slipstream's servo on his shoulder, a compassionate smile on his face.

"Let's go back, Jetstorm"

He slowly nodded. He wouldn't jump to conclusions anymore. Drift had disappeared…He wouldn't suddenly come back.

They didn't notice optics staring at them while they were walking away.

Drift noticed he was lying down on the ground. He had fallen asleep, his back against the wall. He slowly surfaced, wondering how many hours had passed. He was sitting up and suddenly felt an arm on his chest. He glanced down at the owner, puzzled.

His optics widened. He discovered Fracture lying down near him, his optics shut down. Surprise soon turned into indignation and lack of understanding. He frowned, violently pushing Fracture back. What was he thinking?

"Hey!" The Decepticon gave him a murderous glare. He didn't enjoy the awakening.

Drift ignored him.

"Where do you think you are?"

"There are other ways to wake up people!" Fracture spat. "I wasn't attacking you! I only wanted heating."

"You won't have mine"

Why did he accept to help him anyway? Now the Decepticon was getting comfortable. That was bad. Drift stood up and suddenly lost his balance. He was back on the ground.

"What's wrong with you?"Fracture asked him.

His tone was slightly mocking though Drift noticed a hint of concern in. Why would he be worried? Was he afraid of losing his heating? Drift shook his head. That was not normal. He scanned his own body right away.

He understood what the problem was. His energon reserves were low. He didn't drink a cube since…He didn't drink the cube Clampdown gave him. No wonder why he felt so weak…

"Ha" Fracture mocked. "You aren't as resisting as you think you are, are you?"

"Shut up"

"Watch your language"

Watch your language…and Fracture was the one saying it. Drift didn't have the strength to fight back. He tried to calm down. It wasn't the first time…It wasn't the first time he had spent a few days without getting energon.

"Oh. What have I there?"

Fracture gave him a sneer. He was holding a cube entirely full of energon. Drift was amazed. Where did it come from?

"I found nothing when I searched you" He said.

"You underestimate me, my dear Drift. If you think I was twiddling my thumbs while you didn't watch…You are so wrong. I hid energon in the soil before you decide to heal me."

He was staring at the cube. He didn't care about Fracture's opinion of him. He didn't miss. Fracture's smirk widened.

"Are you hungry, my dear Drift?"

"…Silence"

He had to pull himself together. He shouldn't let Fracture think he was in position of strength though it was the truth…Drift was thinking about his own reserves. He was going to collapse…

Unfortunately, he knew Fracture understood.

"What would you offer in exchange, Drift?"

"Shut up!" He cried out. "I saved your life! Remember!"

"But I'm not like you, Drift. I really don't give a damn about your life debts."

He paused.

"I'm a business man. I don't joke when it comes to negotiating. So, Drift. What is your price for this cube full of energon?"

He could smell the fraud from far. Drift glared daggers at him.

"Maybe you could…let me have Bumblebee's bounty? I would go until the next one."

He really wished he could tear his tourniquet off…Fracture just would bleed to death…

"Keep your cube! My loyalty belongs to Bumblebee!"

"Really?"

Fracture raised one eyebrow, staring at the cube.

"Too bad…It looks so juicy…It could save a bot on the verge of death"

"Don't bother about me, Fracture"

"Are you sure?" Fracture insisted. "Drift…It is your life for another life. The life of a bot preaching about justice and yours…asking for redemption."

"…Leave me alone, Fracture." Drift repeated. "Take it. I don't care…Choke yourself with it"

He nodded.

"Okay. Such a loss for you…"

Fracture put it to his lips. Drift looked away. That was too difficult to him. Of course, Fracture wasn't grateful. He wouldn't give a damn about someone dying in front of him. All that mattered was his comfort.

He didn't regret to save his life but…if he could just strangle him…

"Take it"

Drift was cut in his thought. Fracture put the cube in front of him. He noticed it was still full. He looked up at him, confused.

"What are you doing?"

"You can drink it. I just took a sip but that's enough for me. After all, I'm not like you"

"…Why?"

Fracture rolled his optics.

"Do I need to give you more explanations, Drift? You need it. Take it"

That was out of his character. First, Drift wondered about a new dirty trick from Fracture. Nevertheless, he really needed it…He grabbed it and hastily drank it.

Fracture smirked.

"Is my debt paid?"

"No."

"Sheesh"

The samurai paused.

"…But, thanks"

"You're welcome" Fracture nonchalantly said.

He touched his leg. It seemed like it was going better…Once his cube was empty, Drift threw it away.

"The little girl…"

"A little girl?"

"The one you used to capture me" Drift explained. "…What happened to her?"

Yes. What happened to her? Fracture sighed.

"Airazor activated his hologram. My Minicons possess the best technology. They are the best actors ever. After me, of course"

In one way, Drift was relieved to know they never used a real human. Decepticons would never have left them escape.

He suddenly realized he heard nothing outside. There was no more wind, no more rain…

Nothing.

"…Is it over?"