CHAPTER26

From Drift's point of view, days in the Circle of Light were quite fuelled. Not only fuelled but also with many various activities to do. It had nothing to do with Shadow Raker's tutelage, where Drift had been trained from morning till night, before going to his "work".

No. Training lasted till lunch time, even though Drift and Minicons had been forced to remain behind in order to finish their chores. He didn't know rules here. Maybe did he have to work in order to deserve his cube of energon? He would be poorly viewed if he came to claim his cube before his job being done. Anyway, the other members were reunited in the same room to take their energon, having random discussions together. From far, it looked quite cosy. That's at this point where Drift knew more about other tasks.

"Outrigger" Dai Atlas ordered to the young bot. "Administrative tasks for you today."

Outrigger frowned. He didn't seem thrilled about the kind of chore he'd to do. It sounded boring to Drift. Well…How could he do administrative work while he had never learned to read?

"I also need Beak" The giant kept on. "I want you to send your camera-bot to explore Omega deserts."

"I can go with him" The young bot replied.

"You know you can't" Dai Atlas dryly corrected. "Guards had noticed troops, a few days ago. Troops going for Crystal cities."

Troops…? Drift stopped his chores to listen more carefully.

"Star Saber and I will go to meet these troops."

"What are they?" The purple and yellow bot asked.

"We don't know if they are Autobots, Decepticons ou pirates. We'll take the ship to get faster."

Star Saber silently nodded, finishing his cube. Outrigger's expression didn't change. He seemed…upset. It left Drift thoughtful. What were they going to do with these troops?

"If they refuse to leave…?" Wing asked.

"If they only understand brute force…"

Now that's Wing's turn to look upset. Drift realized he was the only one who didn't drink his cube.

"Maybe that's nothing. Maybe they aren't here to steal and rob."

"I agree with Wing" The purple bot approved. "Maybe there is another way to make them go. They seek energon or something else to survive."

"We shall see" Dai Atlas only declared.

Then he turned to the yellow and purple bot.

"Axe. Speaking of energon, I need you to explore mines near Crystal Cities. You'll go in another direction."

Axe didn't seem bothered and gave him a nod. Wing remained mute during a few moments. Then he put his optics on Drift.

Right now, he expected the worst. What was he going to do?

Then, Wing spoke up again.

"Drift could go with Axe. He would prepare energon for tonight."

Everyone froze. Drift raised one eyebrow. Going along with Axe to prepare energon? That would be his next chore? Come now. After being a janitor, would he be a cook?

"Wing" Dai Atlas answered. "Remember. Drift is your responsibility."

"I know."

"He's here since yesterday. I don't want Axe to go in mission along with a bot I barely know."

Axe chuckled.

"Don't worry, Dai Atlas. I can defend myself."

"If you say so"

Yes. Even about a chore, he was naïve. Drift came back to it again. He glanced at Jetstorm and Slipstream. Both of them were exhausted. Drift knew they were hungry.

"I could accompany them" Wing said.

"Wing. You have other duties to do" Dai Atlas retorted.

"Yes. But Drift is my responsibility. If he wishes to stay here, he had to learn about teamwork. Contributing to our collective life."

Teamwork…

While Drift had always been alone…The only team he had been part of had been Shadows.

He knew they didn't trust him. However, making him work while they're eating clearly meant that they didn't wish to integrate him.

That's quite obvious.

In the end, Dai Atlas let out a sigh. He stood up. Break was over.

"Okay. I guess both you and Axe are more than enough to keep him under control."

Dai Atlas glanced back at Drift.

His expression wasn't disdainful…though animosity was still obvious.

Other members left as well. In the end, only three of them remained behind as well as Wing. The white bot stood up then headed for Drift, a slow step. Drift tried to ignore him until a servo touched his shoulder.

"You could have joined us" Wing softly said. "During the break."

Drift rolled his optics.

"Why should I? I'm not welcomed here."

"You would prove you're trying to change" The white bot smiled.

Drift didn't stop.

"You can take a break"

Then Wing displayed three cubes of energon. Jetstorm and Slipstream dropped their tools and hastily ran to him in order to receive them. Drift was displeased by their attitude, giving them a stern look while Wing laughed.

A natural, crystal-clear sound…

"It's okay, Drift. I'm not mad"

At last, Drift stopped as well. He grabbed the cube then the group sat down to drink it. That's at this time where Wing took his.

"You haven't taken your energon with others?" The orange bot asked, surprised.

"I don't wish you to feel isolated." Wing replied. "Eating alone is quite sad…don't you think so?"

He wasn't alone…

He understood. Wing wanted to make them feel part of the team.

The orange bot remained silent a few instants. Then he gave him a nod.

"…Thanks."

"You're welcome"

Unlike Shadow Raker, this place didn't exclude Minicons. They eat together, no matter what their members were. Decepticon, Minicons…

That's…quite nice.
-

Like for his arrival to the Circle of Light, Drift had his optics blindfolded to leave it. Jetstorm and Slipstream as well. When his blindfold was taken off, they were outside. Sun bathed them, burning their helm, a great warmth coming over them. However, he quickly noticed that they weren't inside the city. Crystal Cities were far away, still as blue and shiny.

Wing and Axe were by their side. The latter was carrying his axe on his back, grabbing out a small device that slightly beeped as soon as he stepped away.

"Energon is close" Axe pointed out.

Drift frowned, putting his optics on the City. How could they have gone that far without even him noticing it? Speaking of…

"Is something wrong?" Wing questioned him.

"Why seeking energon here? Can't you buy some in Crystal cities?"

Axe annoyedly snarled. Wing joined him, opening his chassis to take tools out, ready to dig in.

"That's too expensive" Wing said.

"Too expensive even for you?"

He didn't believe it.

"We aren't rich, Drift"

"Your golden hood tells me otherwise"

"If you think that's true gold, you're deeply wrong, Drift" Axe gritted.

The purple and yellow bot wasn't as aloof as Dai Atlas or Star Saber. Nevertheless, he had no patience toward him. Drift let out a sigh. He chose not to insist then grabbed tools, given by Wing.

"Keep an optic on it" Axe ordered Jetstorm and Slipstream while he'd just found a cube of energon.

Well. That had been fast.

"Wow. These territories are full of energon" Slipstream was in awe.

"Is that for? Troops are coming here for energon?" Drift questioned them.

"Cybertron is dying" Axe explained. "Even if some are coming here to conquer the cities, others have something else in mind."

His look went darker. He stopped then faced Drift.

"Do you really believe we are rich? Do you think we don't care about others' misfortune? Do you think we're collecting energon for ourselves and our selfish whims?"

"I never meant it…"

"Even if Gasket left the Circle of Light, even if he committed mistakes, I never fell asleep while picturing him living in streets, trying to survive while I'm comfortably protected here."

"Axe…Please, calm down." Wing warned him.

Axe bit his lip. He simply looked away then went back to digging, seeking other hint of energon with his device. Wing didn't reply anything else.

"Gasket and Axe were quite close" Wing softly justified. "Axe often hides behind rules to accept what happened but…he never took his departure well."

"What did Gasket do? Precisely?"

He wanted to know. Gasket seemed to be an important member of the Circle of light…as well as Wing's mentor…why had he left? Wing found two more cubes of energon. His face was emotionless.

"I'm not in the mood for it."

Was it that serious? Drift noticed Wing tensing up. He had been a bot able to keep cool in front of Dai Atlas while accepting to become a Decepticon's guardian. That's out of character to witness him like this.

"…Gasket never became a criminal" Drift declared. "…Unlike me"

Wing looked up to him.

"Quite the contrary…He helped others to survive, forming groups to bring some amusement to them. Giving them a shoulder whenever they needed it. He supported them, offered them a friendly presence."

He paused.

"It helped me a great deal"

Wing's optics lightened up. His words comforted him. It reassured him…His mentor had never become a criminal. The person who'd taught him everything…

…didn't deserve to die from Autobots. Drift went back to work again.

Suddenly, they heard screaming from far.

"What was it?" Jetstorm cried out.

"We should be the only ones around!" Wing said before standing up.

Screams went again, harder. Axe rushed over to them, weapon at servo.

"I just came across Beak! He noticed a presence at 600 meters away from us!"

"Let's go!"

Both samurais ran to the source, axe and blades at servo. Drift turned back to Jetstorm and Slipstream. He hesitated to leave them behind. But if there were any danger…

He grabbed his laser-gun.

"You remain close, right?"

"Yes, Mister Drift!" Both Minicons replied.

When will they stop calling him "mister"?

He didn't waste time. They together followed Wing and Axe before they could lose their sight.
-

They understood quickly.

From far, a small group of four bots…encircling something.

"Don't be a fool, sweetspark…"

Or rather, someone.

They came closer. They noticed a fembot, green being her main colour. She held things in her arms. Two cubes of energon.

The reason for this argument was obvious.

"Give them to us and we'll be nice"

"You're surrounded by energon here!" The fembot retorted.

"Why would we waste our time in digging out?" Another said with a crooked smirk.

"Who said we actually searched for energon?"

"You're alone. That's not cautious to act rebel. We are four against one."

One of them roughly grabbed her arm. The femme hissed and even before he could draw her to him, she kicked him right in his face. The bot flied away then crashed in the sand.

"You little-"

They didn't even hesitate anymore. The situation had been analysed. Wing and Axe stepped ahead, Drift, Jetstorm and Slipstream remaining a bit apart, behind them.

"What's going on?" Wing asked.

"Get out!" The bot lying on the ground growled back. "It's none of your business!"

Axe glared at them.

"Are you aware that conflicts aren't allowed here? Assaults are strictly forbidden…it can cost you dearly."

"Shut up! That bitch took what belonged to us!"

"Energon?"

Wing shook his head.

"It isn't yours. The one who finds it keeps it. She needs it as well."

"There is energon all around you." Axe added. "You can just use both of your servos"

"Of course. As if we'll find any Shanix in the sand"

The bot stood up. The other three bots turned away from the femme. As if they acted synchronized, they headed for Wing and Axe.

"Good. We can just ask them."

Drift's servo moved over his laser-gun.

An assault…it had been such a long time.

"We don't wish any conflict" Wing warned them. "However, if you ever attack us, you'll not get up again."

"Haha, of course…"

The closest bot lunged over at Wing. Wing didn't step back. He remained unmoving. The next instant, the bot flied in the sky, the white bot holding his katana up. Anger was obvious on his face.

"You bastard!"

The three others attacked. It happened too fast. Drift didn't even wink; one of their attackers came for him. Instinctively, Drift pointed his laser-gun at him then shot. Unfortunately, his enemy was way quicker than he expected, dodging his lasers before throwing an uppercut in his chassis. Drift moved back, acute pain taking over him. Another punch in his face. Drift dropped his laser-gun, collapsing.

"Mister Drift!" He heard.

His vision went blurry. He just noticed a dark shade running over to the laser-gun. The next moment, Jetstorm was in front of him, laser-gun at servo, while the other bot had grabbed Slipstream by the neck.

Slipstream…had tried to defend him…

Drift pointed his laser-gun at his attacker and shot a second time.

No laser came out.

There was no more load!

Scrap!

A laser-gun isn't eternal…

No!

He got up. He forgot about his pain. Let's forget the laser-gun! Now that's his turn. He then violently kicked him in his side. That's powerful enough to make him release Slipstream. Drift rushed over then caught him up before he could touch the ground. The bot was quite struck, energon coming out from his injury…

That's the time to finish him.

Drift's fist was up.

Someone grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him.

He turned around.

Wing.

"What are you doing?"

"Let him go"

He was pulled back. Around him, other bots of the group had been knocked out unconscious.

Yet no one was dead. They grumbled in pain, pitifully.

"Leave that place and don't ever return!" Axe threatened them. "Or you'll pay."

He hadn't apparently needed to use his weapon.

Their enemies gave them murderous glares. Yet they complied. Almost crawling on the ground, they disappeared a few minutes later. Drift wriggled out from Wing's reach.

"What were you thinking?"

"They were down. It wouldn't have been honourable to kill them." Wing coldly retorted.

"Honourable? Are you kidding me? They were about to kill us! We have to finish them! We must always finish them!"

"Who taught you such a thing?" Wing questioned. "Shadow Raker?"

It left him speechless.

Wing glanced back at the laser-gun lying near them.

Drift hadn't even used it.

"What good did this do for you, Drift?"