CHAPTER 28
"…They are so dead now…"
It'd been the sentence Fracture had repeated over and over like an automaton since Nightingale's call. He didn't care if he looked like a fool. It hadn't been his problem currently. While Windblade witnessed as he violently typed on the dashboard to modify their trajectory, he was thinking about only one thing: his daughter. But while before, he'd been worried sick and had only wondered about whether she was safe or not…this time, he was furious and didn't understand his daughter's stupidity.
Leaving like this…along with Kat…for an unknown destination…
Was she out of her mind or what?
"Fracture, calm down!" The flier told him.
"And how can I possibly calm down?"
He involuntarily pressed a button that played a 'calm' and 'relaxing' music in the control room. Fracture growled and just punched on the dashboard, putting an end to it.
"Fools! Dumbasses! Sparks will fly! I swear!"
Windblade bit her lip. Fracture guessed that she was trying to find some good words to get him appeased. But despite her good intentions, it didn't work.
"Maybe they just wanted to explore…Night might have wanted to visit something other than the Earth or Cybertron…"
It wasn't an excuse!
"At least, we know where they're going…At Crystal cities"
"Of course, they found the closest destination!" The purple bot sneered, sarcastic.
Why it had been Crystal Cities?
It'd to be this destination…no, no. Universe didn't contain enough of planets. They needed to act like princesses as well.
And how had they been able to run away? With which ship? Night didn't know how to pilot and he doubted that Kat knew as well.
They'd probably paid someone to lead them to this destination…whoever they were, the person shall pray that Fracture didn't find them because he'll demolish them!
Which punishment for such a stupidity?
No more outing…no more gadget…nothing else!
She'll not see Kat ever again!
And yet he wasn't sure if it'll ever calm him down! But at least, his daughter wouldn't sneak out behind his back ever again!
"They are so dumb!" The purple bot repeated.
"Have you ever been a teen?"
Why did she find any excuse for her? Fracture just glared back at her, not saying anything.
Anyway, he'd promised Nightingale to bring her daughter back to her as well. He owed her…though maybe Kat wouldn't be safe from her wrath.
Fracture shut his optics, trying to apply Drift's ways to calm down.
Meditating…
Inhale. Exhale.
Calm down…
Having a peaceful mind…
He growled. It hardly worked this time.
Windblade simply stood up to get a cube of energon. She'd probably had enough as she'd been talking to a brick wall. Her initiative was good anyway. And a cube of energon would definitely be welcome right now.
Fracture let out a deep sigh. As soon as he was alone in the control room, he started typing commands to enter in comm-link.
Esmeral was probably worried. He'd promised her to give her news about Night's situation. First, he would reassure her then he'd warn her. After all, she was fond of his daughter. He couldn't leave her into uncertainty.
A few minutes passed until Esmeral replied.
"Fracture? Is everything alright?"
"More or less" He gritted dentas.
A silence spent before Esmeral spoke up again.
"…Did something happen?"
He could feel panick and concern in her voice…Immediately, he cut her in.
"Night is fine"
For now.
Then he told her everything he'd learned. Night landing at Nightingale's place, running away for Crystal Cities along with Kat, having been nice enough to leave a note…
Then anger came up again.
"Crystal cities…"
"Exactly"
She sounded thoughtful. Fracture frowned, reading her mind. He guessed. This name was familiar to her.
"…Did you already come here?"
"Of course…Since it's the place where the Circle of Light base is."
This statement made him froze, arms down.
The mention of the Circle of Light…
This memory made him gulp…He felt like he'd been back ten years ago.
The place where Axe, Esmeral's partner, had lived…
The place where Wing had lived…
…The place where Drift had lived…
Everything came back.
Drift had told his past here…his relationship with each member…especially his with Wing…
Axe's death…
Wing's death…killed by Lockdown…
And himself that'd defended that monster's acts…
It made him bitter.
If only he'd known…
"…I see"
"Do you think they might have gone there…to learn more about them?" The femme gently questioned.
"…I don't know"
Drift isn't your genitor.
Maybe she'd come there…to learn more about him?
Despite the reveal about her adoption…
He spoke up again.
"Anyway…we're going there. The trip might last for a few days but…we don't have any choice. So…if you could…"
"I get it, Fracture. If I have news, I'll tell you about it"
He'd never needed any word with her.
He softened up at this…
"Thanks…"
"Hey, Fracture?"
"Hm"
"I wished to know if…"
There'd been a long pause. As if she hesitated to say something…
She ended up by asking, a bit shyly.
"If you wish to stop by Caminus…for some rest or anything else…My Temple is opened."
He enjoyed the idea.
"It'll be tempting"
He could feel a smile at the other end of the line. In the end, they both said goodbye to each other and cut the comm-link, at the exact moment where Windblade stepped in, carrying cubes on a plate.
"…Was it Esmeral?" The flier asked.
He nodded, reaching out to get the cube. Windblade sat down near him.
"You talk a lot with her, I see"
"Well…Let's just say that she…understands me"
"Because she'd lost her mate as well?"
He felt some bitterness in Windblade's voice. Fracture turned back to her. Sadness was obvious in her optics…
Compassion…
He didn't need to answer. She already knew.
In his chassis, he still kept the Way of Flame pendant in…something he'd never tried to hide.
He wondered if Windblade…would have liked to find someone who could share her pain as well.
"Before this trip, I would never have thought that…you were still suffering." He declared, a seemingly-neutral tone. "…I thought that…you've moved on"
"…Me neither"
She looked down.
"I didn't know you were suffering as well"
Fracture chose not to add anything. They both drank their cubes in silence, together.
Despite circumstances…Maybe he could play this role for her…like Father John had advised him to do.
Being this someone who could listen to her…at least, listening.
"Thanks for the cube"
"You're welcome"
That's all.
Combat or death…
Combat or death…
In the end, it'd been Night's sole thoughts in her processor while she was assisting Kat with the preparation of energon, in the basement…
Combat or death…
Her gloomy expression hadn't vanished since Saberhorn had given them the two ways out.
"Night…You're going to cut yourself"
Night didn't react. At least until she noticed a small drop of energon coming out of her digit.
She just emptily stared at it. It didn't even hurt.
"Let me do it"
Kat passed by then grabbed a piece of handkerchief to press it on the cut.
Night slightly shivered at this but didn't complain. It'd been three days they were trapped here. Time was so slow and days were very long as well. They woke up for chores, trying not to complain, an Insecticon keeping an optic on them. Since their meeting in their cells, they hadn't come across the captain again. He'd probably some other business to do.
She glanced back at a knife.
She wondered if she could use it…taking their jailors down with it…under a pulse…and they would escape in life pods.
But…had there been life pods in this ship?
How had they landed there?
Yet…they mustn't give up. Her mother…wouldn't give up.
Maybe there were another way…They couldn't wait until they're saved.
Night grabbed cubes to fill them up with energon.
At this moment, the door got opened. They looked up.
An Insecticon with a masked face…with a wasp alt-mode…Night's optics widened.
They took time before they recognized him…
The one who'd attacked them…
"You little scraplets"
The Insecticon stepped forward.
Kat moved back. Night tried to ignore him, focusing back on the energon.
"You burned my face" The Insecticon shouted at the cyclops.
Kat didn't answer.
"I'm talking to you, you scraplet!"
Then he sped up. He was soon in front of them.
Kat trembled.
As for Night, she tried not to react…
She was trying…but if he kept on…
"You'll pay…for my face, you'll pay"
Resist, Night thought.
Too late.
"Maybe this appearance suits you better" Night growled, a low tone.
The Insecticon froze.
He turned back to her.
Night stared back at him.
"What did you say?"
Night simply reached out.
Then suddenly, the Insecticon grabbed her neck at the same time where Night grabbed the knife to put it under the Insecticon's throat, threatening to slice his neckcables with.
"Let her go!" Kat cried out while she lunged at the Insecticon, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to make him release Night.
The wasp growled and hit her face with his shoulderplate, sending her against the wall.
"You'll stop acting like if you were the boss here!" The enemy growled, tightening his hold.
Night couldn't help a yelp of pain, trying to catch her breath.
She tried to use her knife and aiming at his optic but she accidentally dropped her weapon. She just heard the metallic noise touching the floor.
Her vision went blurry…her audios went deaf…
Then the Insecticon was pulled backwards, hitting the wall.
Night didn't have any time to recognize the captain that she fell onto the floor, holding her neck while she desperately tried to catch her breath.
She could hear Saberhorn growling at the wasp, giving him a stern glare.
"Haven't I ordered you to leave them be?" The captain questioned.
The wasp glared at him. Saberhorn didn't seem impressed.
"Didn't I ever tell you about how I punish people who disobey me?" The captain calmly threatened him.
"They got my face burned!"
"What if I burn the rest of your body if you dare disobey me again? We can try it"
The wasp punched the wall at that.
The captain's expression didn't change.
"Get out, good fella"
The wasp clenched his fists. Yet he obeyed and walked away.
"I'm not done yet"
Night only watched as Kat rushed over to help her up.
Saberhorn turned back to them. He gave them a falsely sympathetic smile again.
"My crewmates…Ils sont désespérants"
Night glanced back at the knife left on the floor.
It didn't have been enough.
I'm not done yet
She couldn't suppress a chill.
Saberhorn had been merciful enough to step in. But maybe he wouldn't be that merciful the next time?
He'd threatened her…
He'd threatened Kat…
What would he do, the next time?
"Shut up?"
"excuse me?"
Saberhorn stared back at her, a bit stunned.
Night touched her neckcables.
She didn't tear her optics off him.
"We aren't your toys, okay?"
"I never said such a thing"
Saberhorn's smile vanished.
"Else…I wouldn't have bothered to intervene"
"Get scrapped"
"Night!" Kat warned her, a scared tone.
Night ignored her.
She lowered down and picked up the knife…
…then she threw it at the Insecticon's pedes.
The captain's optics widened.
"Combat or death, did you say?" Night repeated.
Her choice was made…if she'd to die, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
"…I choose combat"
