Arcee, Jazz and Sideswipe trudged through the groundbridge portal, metal plating covered in scratches and grime accumulated from their last mission.
When Ratchet saw their condition his optics dilated in surprise. "By the Allspark, what did you three go through?"
"A sewer." Sideswipe shrugged nonchalantly, oblivious to the strange looks that he received from the doctor and Ultra Magnus, who strode towards them.
"Autobots, were you successful in scouting Kaon for signs of Decepticon activity?" The commander asked them, while Ratchet was busy scanning the trio with a holographic tool built into his forearm.
"We got a good look alright." Jazz answered. "And not all of its good."
Ultra Magnus raised a concerned eyebrow. "Hmm. Very well, get yourselves cleaned up and prepare to give a full debrief in thirty milli-cycles."
The three of them nodded, Arcee having to shrug off Ratchet's endless scans. "We're fine Ratchet." She assured him. "All I need is a good oil bath..."
Several Autobots sat inside the briefing room, watching as the now clean and very much refreshed recon team detailed their last mission from a console that displayed the Decepticon city of Kaon.
"It wasn't long before we encountered Starscream, along with two Combaticons." Arcee told the crowd, sparking a chorus of mutterings among them. "Apparently the rest of the team is scattered in stasis lock all over the planet. If the Combaticons reunite..."
"Then keeping control of Cybertron will become a lot harder." Jazz finished. This revelation did nothing to ease the Autobots however, only causing more concern to spread.
Ultra Magnus raised his servo for quiet, to which the crowd somewhat oblidged. "Continue." He urged them.
"Right." Jazz straightened his posture. "We unfortunately were spotted...by Quake." Several gasps and growls filled the room. "However!" Jazz has to raise his voice over the crowd. "We managed to lose them in...ah...a sewer." Several chuckles now replaced the cries. "It was there that we found...Grimlock."
The room fell silent. No Autobot had seen or heard from Grimlock in centuries. Most assumed him to be either killed or missing in action. Some had even doubted he existed in the first place. But now, according to Jazz's team, he was alive.
Jazz continued. "But he was...different. Said his team split up because they were a danger to each other. I don't know what Shockwave did to them but it sure wasn't good."
Ultra Magnus furrowed his metallic brow. "Hmm... Ratchet, would it be possible to somehow reverse the effects of Shockwave's modifications?"
The medic stroked his chin in thought. "Possibly. Although I would first need an Energon sample to know for sure what was done to him."
"Then it would seem that we are in need of some volunteers."
The crowd shifted around uncomfortably. Going after a half self-aware Grimlock seemed like suicide to most. Any bot crazy enough to take up a mission like that was bound to have a few bolts loose.
"I'll go." A red bot with flame decals stepped forwards, his servo raised for further clarification.
Ultra Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Hot Rod, is it?"
"Yep."
The Autobot commander thought for a moment before calling out again. "Anyone else?"
Another figure moved towards the front of the crowd. A dark green bot emerged, he was much older than the others, but also more experienced. "I'll accompany the kid. He could use the backup. Besides, I used to know Grimlock pretty well, perhaps I could try and talk to him."
"Very well Kup. Ratchet will brief you tomorrow morning."
Kup nodded in response.
Ultra Magnus straightened even more so than he already was, as he addressed the remainder of the room.
"As for the rest of us, our next course of action is clear. We will assemble a strike team and leave for Kaon at first light. It is absolutely paramount that we stop the Decepticons now before they can get any stronger. The future of an Autobot Cybertron rests on our shoulders. Make sure you recharge well tonight so you are ready to gear up and head out at dawn. Autobots, dismissed!"
The Autobot lay still, shackled against the wall with chains of iron in a dark chamber. He wore mostly white armour, which was now scratched and dented in places. The bot had a similar build to Wheeljack, though he was a little bulkier.
The Autobot onlined his optics as the door to his cell opened, allowing a blindingly bright light to shine through. He raised his head slowly, and saw an all too familiar skeletal Decepticon before him.
"Ah. Bludgeon." The Autobot sounded weak but his defiance outweighed the pain. "I hear you're Shockwave's new lapdog. How's that working out for you?" A slight smile permeated his silver face as he saw Bludgeon's growing irritation.
"I serve no master!" He growled from behind the mask. "You know that Drift, better than anyone."
"I know you're a murderer and a traitor." Drift spat back.
"Am I? I was only eliminating those who Megatron saw as a threat."
"So you do have a master."
"No! The Decepticons were only a means to an end. Once they had fulfilled their purpose, I intended to terminate Megatron. I gave you all a choice. But you and your precious circle of light decided that you shouldn't get involved in the war. Cowards. What was the point in training, if we weren't supposed to fight? At least Megatron offered me a way to use my talents, which is more than I can say for you."
"Release these cuffs and I'll show you what my training was for."
"Ha! You think I'm like Megatron? That you can coax me into freeing you just to satisfy my ego? No. We will have our last battle, when I see fit. But do not worry, when Shockwave is no longer of use to me, I'll let you see my new empire before I rip out your spark."
Drift snorted. "I'll be looking forward to it." He answered sarcastically.
"I certainly will." Bludgeon's ruby optics gleamed at the thought before he turned to exit the chamber. "This has been a nice talk. I'll come and pay you a visit again sometime. Don't go anywhere!" He cackled maniacally as he sealed Drift off from the world again.
Drift lowered his head on his torso again, closing his optics and delving into the memories of that fateful day...
"Master? Master!"
Drift's panicked shouts echoed throughout the ruins of the Cybertronian temple. When no answer was given within a few seconds he frantically began searching through piles of debris, desperate to find any sign of life. All he found were broken weapons and severed limbs, causing him to reel back in digust.
A pained groan came from the other end of the building. "D-Drift..."
Drift quickly moved to the source of the voice to find his master, Dai Atlas, lying at the base of a shattered shrine to Primus. He was a strongly built bot, his blue and gold armour almost making him seem like royalty. His hand was at a large wound to his side, that was spilling a river of energon over the pristine white floor.
"Master." Drift knelt by his side. "Who did this?"
"B-Bludgeon." The older bot managed. "He came here with a battalion of Decepticons and gave us a choice: Join him or die. We-" He coughed up some energon. "-said we wanted no part in the war, and things...got out of hand..."
"That fragging scrapheap. I knew he couldn't be trusted. We'll deal with him as soon as I've patched you up." Drift moved to stand up but was stopped by his master's servo.
"No. It's...too late for me."
Drift didn't want to believe it, but he knew it was true. "I'm sorry master, I shouldn't have gone to the Autobot negotiations. I should have stayed here where I belong, I would've-"
"You would have been slaughtered along with the rest of us." His master assured him. "Do not mourn the past young warrior, but seek a better future."
"But what do I do? The circle is gone. I have no purpose."
"Yes you do. My mission is now yours. This war, all wars, must end. You are now the last knight, and I trust you'll make the right choice." His voice was become weaker with every word.
"I'm not like you master, I'm not as strong, or skilled, or wise-"
"I-I believe in you Drift, you'll be able to stop Bludgeon, of this I am certain. B-But be sure to remain humble, and know that your mind is more powerful than any blade..."
With the last of his strength finally ebbing, Dai Atlas' crimson optics dimmed before fading completely. His body lay still.
Drift squeezed his old master's hand, his optics shut tight to stop the streams of energon from pouring out. After a few moments he steeled himself, he was a warrior and had a responsibility to uphold. Drift picked up his master's large sword, the blade covered in ancient cybertronian etchings along the gold edges. Drift knew that this was the sword that would be the end of Bludgeon, a diplomatic solution was not an option for either of them.
Drift stood and waved his hand over his master's corpse, muttering a final blessing in ancient cybertronian.
"Till All Are One..."
So Drift and Bludgeon have a little bit of a rivalvy. It might have something to do with the latter killing their master...I mixed Drift with a bit of IDW and Animated Prowl (for the backstory) in case you wondered where I got the inspiration from.Now I'm beginning to worry that I have too many characters to focus on but I'll do my best to balance things out.The next chapter will probably be a big one, so stay tuned and be patient! I'm trying to do as much as I can on this with my somewhat limited spare time...Please review and I'll catch you in the next update! ;)