CHAPTER 53

"Seriously, Drift ?"

The samurai didn't bat one optic. He didn't reply. He just had his arms crossed, looking down. Nearby, Fracture sat down on the ground, still cuffed. However, his grin didn't disappear.

"Drift! I'm talking to you! Was that really necessary?"

"It's none of your business, Sideswipe" The orange Autobot growled.

The red bot let out a deep sigh. There was nothing he could do. He was talking in a vacuum. He slowly was losing his patience. Drift was unflinching.

"SERIOUSLY?" He repeated. "Seiza position until the nightfall? What's wrong with you? What's wrong in your mind? Fracture makes your head spin?"

"Oh…You have no idea, kid" The purple Decepticon joked.

The red bot had always been a bit protective toward the Minicons. Sometimes, Drift feared he would have a bad influence on them. That's definitely the reason why Sideswipe called Drift out for his behaviour to such earth-shattering news.

Slipstream…will have a kid…or rather, kids.

Drift had reacted…just like any normal person would have. He hadn't yelled. He hadn't made a spark attack though Denny had pointed he was a bit pale. No. He had remained cold like a stone. He had stared at his pupil, expecting him to burst into laughing. He'd expected him to say that's only a stupid joke. Drift would have scolded him lightly then end of the story.

Unfortunately, he'd said nothing else.

The only good point of this? Slipstream's intervention had abruptly stopped the Autobot's conflict about Fracture's fate. Indeed. They would talk about it later. But once he had processed the news, Drift had coldly ordered his student to drop his naginata. He'd ordered him to sit down in a seiza position until his punishment. To Sideswipe, Drift had been too severe. How was the samurai supposed to react? He'd endured so many things in his life…but he'd never faced such a thing.

Anything but this.

"I don't need your help to educate my Minicons!" The samurai spat.

"And so, what? They made a kid! Okay! But you'll not punish him until the end of the world!"

He'd announced it in such a manner! In front of everyone! Slipstream could have chosen a better timing! He could have knocked at his door. They could have talked alone.

"My student is a disappointment" Drift spoke up. "I'd warned him to be careful."

"Do you think a punishment is a good idea?" Sideswipe exclaimed. "Primus, Drift! Life isn't a stupid Code to follow to the letter! It's not about a katana Slipstream accidentally damaged this time! It's about his kids!"

Drift took a long breath. He hadn't forgotten about the time where Slipstream had destroyed his katana. And Slipstream had been his accomplice. However, he must admit: Sideswipe was right. It was something very different. Something much more serious.

Slipstream will have…a kid.

And he and Berry had decided to keep them. They'd decided to take care of them.

At least, Slipstream had decided to be responsible. He hadn't run away like a coward. Anyone else would have left. It was an admirable trait. However, how will he take care of this kid? His kids? How will he take care of Berry? Will he stop serving him? Will he stop his training?

"…What should I do?"

"Drift" Sideswipe spoke up, a serious look. "You are his Master. You decided to take him away from Shadow Raker. You decided to become his teacher. It's your duty to help him. It's your duty to help Berry. You are their protector. It's more than teaching him to use a sword."

It left him speechless.

From far, he caught sight of Slipstream. His back faced him. He'd been unmoving though he could feel his fear. His student let out a chill. Drift bit his lip.

"I don't want him to act on a whim."

"If it makes him happy" Sideswipe said. "you must respect that. After all, the day you stole Jetstorm and Slipstream, haven't you made a fast decision as well?"

Truth to be told, Drift had always wanted to run away. But at the second he'd watched Shadow Raker torture Jetstorm one more time, he'd decided to take them with him. He'd made them swear to study and serve.

"Did you ever regret this decision?" Sideswipe questioned him. "Wasn't it the greatest thing in your life? Before them, you'd been alone. Do you regret it?"

No. He regretted nothing.

"…It was worth it."

"So, trust him! Guide him, help him! Teach him…just like you did for them. After all, they are kids. That's not death."

He turned back to Sideswipe.

He'd never expected him to have such a maturity one day…

"…I will consider your advice."

"Good! Don't reject him like that! He needs your help. He needs you more than anyone else."

Sideswipe glared at Fracture then walked away. The purple Decepticon had listened all along. According to his expression, Fracture agreed with the red bot. Drift let out a deep sigh.

"…The kid is right, Drift" Fracture spoke up.

"I'm not talking to you"

"After all, be happy! You'll be a grandpa soon enough!"

He nearly choked at this remark. He glared daggers at Fracture; he silently warned him not to keep on. The Decepticon didn't seem impressed.

"Admit it, Drift. This idea crossed your mind."

"Not at all"

"A Minicon is like a child, after all. You protect them, they obey you…And you'll sacrifice your own life for their sake."

Drift's hard stare turned into a saddened, compassionate expression. Fracture didn't react though he gulped.

"Follow the kid's advice. He's quite clever. Do it or you'll regret it. You'll end up like me."

Then silence fell again.
-

"…Master?"

Slipstream cowered and hunched his shoulders while the samurai headed for him. He stopped in front of him. His student didn't move. He remained in the same position. He didn't want to look up at him.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke up. Drift wondered if it was the best solution. He felt it. Slipstream was afraid. He was afraid to be a disappointment to his Master.

"…Listen, Slipstream" He started. "…I thought about it and…"

He cleared his throat. Let's get to the point. His tone wasn't cold yet strict. Why should he? His pupil didn't need this.

"…Is that really what you wish?"

Slipstream nodded. He still wasn't facing him.

"Well…if you're decided…you know what it means."

"Yes" He replied, his voice low. "…I understand"

Finally, he looked up back at him. A certain determination was obvious in his optics.

"If you want me to leave, I'll-"

"Who said such a thing?"

Drift invited him to listen.

"I admit. We weren't ready for this. But you must understand the consequences of your decision. A kid means a lot of responsibilities."

"I'll take full responsibility" His student said. "I'll learn."

Drift had his optics shut.

"So, I'll show you. I'll show you how to care of them. How to protect them. One day, I'll no longer be here. Your child will rely on you. You'll become his protector."

It didn't scare Slipstream off. He was a bit surprised by his Master's reaction. He probably thought Drift would abandon him, along with Berry and his kids yet to come.

"…I'll honour you"

"No, Slipstream. I'm not the one you'll honour. Not anymore."

Drift nodded at Berry. The Minicon was talking with her Master as well, through comm-link. It didn't seem to be a pleasant talk. She repeatedly gave Slipstream alarmed looks.

"…But what about your training?" His Master asked him.

"…I will continue. I can do both."

"It'll mean a lot of work, you know."

"Maybe. But as you said, I'll have to learn how to protect my child."

So…Drift gestured him to stand up. He ordered him to take his naginata. Slipstream displayed a small smile, bowing to him. Russell passed them, obviously happy to see how things turned out.

"I will do my best to help you" Drift promised. "You are not alone. You have people you can count on. We'll have a meeting later, with our teammates. These little ones will need to have a stable environment."

"How long is a pregnancy? Or…a carrying?" Russell asked, stopping by them. "That's around nine months when it comes to a human. It must be longer for you, right?"

Drift shook his head.

"Quite the contrary. It's much shorter than this. You can count…a few days before their children's birth."

"WHAT? BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE!" The boy cried out, completely astonished.

"That's why we have to take adequate measures…as soon as possible" Drift calmly agreed.

Russell gulped, looking back at his father. Denny was busied with other things. Indeed, the scrapyard's owner started to set up many blankets in order to build a kind of "nest" for babies yet to come. Suddenly, Berry headed for them. She displayed an awkward expression. Slipstream ran to her.

"So? What did she say?"

"…She said she would be coming soon." Berry said. "…She'll need to talk to you and…she advised you to arm yourself."

Slipstream fearfully glanced back at his Master. Drift simply shrugged. That's one of consequences. He'll have to face his partner's Master.

Drift coughed a bit then spoke up again.

"Anyway…when it comes to a kid…"


"Hey, kid? What's wrong?"

Jetstorm randomly typed on his keyboard. But there was nothing to help it. The computer wasn't responding. The screen froze on a window: "Ongoing upgrading". His patience was running thin. Unfortunately, that wasn't his computer. It was Commander Russell's laptop. He'd accepted to lend it to him.

He gulped. What had he done? Why didn't it work anymore? He did nothing! He'd used it as usual and now…the laptop crashed! Nearby, Fracture watched the scene. Jetstorm simply his remark and he tried to turn it off.

"You seem to be in difficulties" The purple Decepticon commented.

"I wasn't talking to you" Jetstorm retorted, his optics on the screen.

"Oh, please! You're obviously having troubles. I could give you a servo."

Jetstorm glared at him.

"Why would I need your help?"

"Well…I have skills in technology. I'm ready to bet. I'm sure the glitch isn't that bad. Who knows? It may be quite simple."

Indeed. Bumblebee tolerated his presence here in the scrapyard. However, Jetstorm wasn't ready to become his friend. That was a temporary alliance, after all. Just like the others. When they'll be safe, Fracture would be put on trial.

He let out a sigh.

"It's a human laptop. That isn't Cybertronian."

"Good" Fracture nodded. "It'll be a way easier!"

"I will not remove your handcuffs."

Fracture sneered. He displayed his servos.

"Did you notice my digits's size? Did you notice the laptop's size? If I press a button, I'd destroy it."

"No. I think I'll warn Commander Russell about it. He'll not be happy but I prefer to be honest."

"Did you try to restart?"

Jetstorm frowned. He shook his head. Fracture told him to move closer. The Minicon didn't obey. Nevertheless, he showed him the laptop's screen. The purple Decepticon nodded.

"Even humans have maintenance issues?"

"I tried to press every button but…nothing to do. I can't turn it off either."

"Well…What were you doing on this computer?"

The Minicon kept his mouth shut, an awkward look on his face. It amused the prisoner though he added that he needed as much information as possible to find out the glitch. In the end, Jetstorm let out a sigh.

"I only tried to contact someone…Then the glitch happened. I can't do anything."

"Okay. Press the button like if you tried to turn it off."

"But I tried! It didn't work!"

"I think you haven't pressed it long enough."

Jetstorm reluctantly complied. He'd nothing to lose after all. He kept his digit on the button until the screen suddenly went black. For one moment, the Minicon wished he hadn't listened to him. He was afraid. What if he broke it? Fracture briefly comforted him then told him to restart.

It worked again but unfortunately, "Ongoing upgrading" went up again. At least, Jetstorm could use the cursor now. The Decepticon advised him to open other windows in order to perform more commands. In the end, a half hour later, the window disappeared. Everything went back to normal again.

"What? Is that all?"

Jetstorm let out a deep sigh of relief. That was such a load off his mind. He'd expected the worst while that was actually nothing. He turned back to Fracture.

"Thanks, I suppose."

"You're welcome. At least, you'll know for the next time. Humans don't possess our complex technology. So that's way easier to understand."

Jetstorm glanced back at Fracture's cuffs.

"…It doesn't mean I'll release you"

"Oh, boy! It would have been my reward."

The Minicon moved back. Fracture simply shrugged.

"I'm just kidding, kid."

"…You tried to kill us many times" Jetstorm coldly replied.

"I know. You repeated it many times. Don't worry" Fracture sighed, an aloof tone. "I'll be punished soon enough anyway."

But Jetstorm wasn't sure of it. After their alliance against Shadow Raker, Fracture had run away. He'll do the same thing again.

"So" The Decepticon spoke up again, a mischievous grin on his face. "Who did you wish to contact?"

"…That's none of your business"

"It's Stingheart, right?"

Jetstorm rolled his optics. He was about to turn around and leave, but something held him back. A certain thought crossed his mind. He turned back to the Decepticon. As they were alone, he could ask him.

"…What's going on between you and Master Drift?"

Fracture raised one eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

The Decepticon's expression didn't change. A few minutes passed. In the end, he answered.

"…We are rivals."

"No. I think there is much more than this."

He hoped it wasn't true. Hopefully Stingheart was wrong.

"Listen. He helps me, I help him."

"Why would you do this? You aren't a fair-play person."

"…Our rivalry…that's all I have left, Jetstorm."

Unexpectedly, although Jetstorm had the feeling that Fracture wasn't completely honest with him, he sounded genuine. The Minicon thought about Airazor. He sighed. No. He had no sympathy for Fracture but…

Suddenly, Grimlock cut them in. The Dinobot hastily rushed over to them.

"Grimlock?" Jetstorm asked.

"…You need to come! Now!"

"Why? What's going on?"

"…Don't ask! Come!"

Jetstorm and Fracture exchanged a look. In the end, they followed him.