CHAPTER 27

After the assault, Drift and Minicons had their optics blindfolded again. That meant departure to them. Wing was going to bring them back to the base. He was right. Shock and horror were still obvious in their gestures. Axe and Wing thought they couldn't keep on. They were afraid of being attacked again…and maybe they were right…

Axe glanced back at the laser-gun. Drift hadn't picked it up.

If there were a new assault, Drift and Minicons wouldn't be useful anyway. Drift thought he could fight while relying on only one laser-gun. That wasn't good…He nearly forgot his other weapons: his arms, legs, whatever he could use against enemies…Wing said he hated martial arts. It had nearly cost him dearly today…And about Minicons…they didn't have any Deployers that could launch them off to knock their attackers out. Furthermore, they were unable to fight back.

Moreover, Drift was afraid for them. He wasn't thinking about his surrounding, about the battlefield.

Axe let out a sigh. How would they manage to get integrated in the Circle of Light? Why was Wing thinking they had some potential? He saw nothing in them.

He didn't accompany them anyway. Wing would handle them. Axe had to finish his mission. The white bot warned him not to coming back too late then left the place.

He left Axe alone with the green femme.

She sat down in the sand to catch her breath. Axe put his weapon on the ground then walked over to her.

"Is everything alright?"

The femme looked up at him, immediately wary. She stared at him, a distrustful expression on her face.

"I will do no harm to you" Axe declared, his servos up.

"How would I know?" She dryly retorted.

That's probably normal. She had been attacked by a group of four bots. She let out a frown then stood up.

"Well…We just rescued you. Isn't that enough?" He asked.

"You wouldn't be the first bad Samaritans I would meet."

She grabbed cubes of energon.

"What do you mean?" Axe asked her.

"I've been assaulted twice during this cycle. The first time, I was in the city. I had been rescued by pirates who then stole my energon."

"I see"

The femme remained motionless. She looked down. A regretful and reluctant expression appeared on her face. At first, Axe didn't understand. Then, slowly, she handed her cubes over to him.

"If that's what you wish…Take them."

"What? No!"

"Is it the reason why you came here, right? I don't have any Shanix so be warned. It's unnecessary to beat me for it. You would waste your time!"

Axe moved back. Her attitude left him speechless.

"Not at all! I'll not rob you! I'm not one of these! I came for energon, yes, but I came here to dig it out."

For emphasis, Axe lowered down to take his tools. In a sharp move, a hole was formed. The blue light from energon appeared.

"See? I will not attack you" He reassured her, warmly smiling to her.

The femme watched him dig in. She stared back at the cubes in her arms. Axe realized that maybe, she felt like a fool to have doubted of his intentions. Yet wariness didn't vanish.

Still, she apologized in a low voice.

"I'm sorry…that's just…I'm so accustomed to…I don't trust anyone."

"Normal. After all, this place isn't safe from criminals."

Axe grabbed the energon he just found. For one moment, he planned to keep it for himself, for others, for the meal…

Then he put his optics on this fembot again. Her chassis had been scratched, covered with bruises.

"Take it"

He handed his cubes over. It struck the femme.

"You found it. Keep it for yourself! Resources aren't inexhaustible here."

"You need it more than I do" He replied, a soft tone. "Please…take it."

She refused again. He still insisted. He wanted to prove he meant no harm to her. He didn't know the reason why. He knew he could just walk past her. He could let her go…

In the end, she hesitantly received it.

"What do you wish in exchange?"

"Nothing at all. I don't need any reason to help you."

It was strange. He was talking like Wing now…

That's the same speech…

He felt a bit idiot. Though the femme's optics lit up.

"…Thanks."

"You're welcome"

She paused. Axe went back to digging again.

"…What's your name?" She asked.

"Axe. What about yours?"

"…Esmeral."

Nice name, he thought. He shook his head. What? Couldn't he think a name sounded beautiful?

Well…her name wasn't the only beautiful thing about her…He cut his thoughts. That wasn't the right time for this, Primus!

"Are you affiliated to a faction?"

"Not at all" He replied. "But you…"

Esmeral's optics were blue. Her affiliation was clear.

"…You are an Autobot."

"Yes. Well…I was an Autobot before coming here. Since there…only neutrals are allowed."

"Why did you come here?"

"…To make a fresh start." She softly said.

She let out a sigh.

"Autobot colour…that's the only thing left for me in order not to forget."

"You must have been in a lot of trouble in Crystal Cities, right?"

"I don't live here. I'm living in a village close by, in Omega desert. I just go to the Crystal Cities for my work."

"Really?"

It drew his curiosity.

"What is your job?"

"…I read" She vaguely said.

Hm. Strange answer. She didn't seem to wish to give more information about her. Axe noticed she tensed up. He gave her a smile.

"That had been quite a long time since I haven't read. Books are rare here…"

That's true. The Circle of Light had been full of knowledge, documents as well as books that Axe'd loved reading from morning till night. Dai Atlas had even blamed him for neglecting his duties for reading a good book. Axe had never denied it. It had made him dream. Gasket had been the one who'd taught him to read. Then Wing had entered in the Circle of Light. Gasket had taught him to read as well.

Then one day…All these books had disappeared. They had been burnt.

Axe had never known who did this. No one had ever known. Dai Atlas had thought it had been Gasket who had burnt books right before his departure. This thought had hurt Axe deeply.

"…What is your job?" Esmeral asked him.

"Oh…Well, I teach martial arts."

"I knew you were a samurai."

Esmeral remained thoughtful during a few moments. Then she spoke up again.

"Are you living in Crystal Cities?"

"…more or less."

"So…"

She took a long breath.

"You can just join me tomorrow, in Atynx market square. In tough areas. That's the place where I work. If you wish, as a way to thank you…I can lend you a few books."

"You aren't obligated" Axe immediately replied.

"I'm not"

She didn't smile…yet there was warmth in her words.

"You're right…Books are rare here. Many of us aren't lucky to enjoy them."

She turned around, ready to leave.

"See you tomorrow, so."

"…See you" Axe replied.

Then Esmeral vanished.

For a few minutes, Axe didn't dig in anymore.

The idea to read again…touching one more cybertronian book…discovering its content…it made him happy.

He knew he wouldn't be the only one.

Then, he'll meet her again.

Axe displayed a pleased smile then went back to working again. He mustn't get lazy either.

Axe, Drift, Jetstorm and Slipstream had the duty to prepare energon for tonight.

While Drift was assisting him with energon, Axe felt forced to talk about his meeting with Esmeral with someone. Since Wing was busy, he had to find someone else.

"Do you like books, Drift?"

Drift looked down. Axe guessed he still had memories from what'd happened today.

"…Not really."

His answer disappointed him. He'd believed they could share an interesting topic. Axe let out a sigh. That's hopeless to insist. At least, he'd been able to talk about everything with Gasket.

"Actually, I would like to…" The orange bot kept on. "But…I don't know."

"You can't read…"

He shook his head. Axe didn't understand why. But he read shame in Drift's optics.

What was shame for?

"You didn't have the chance, that's all" Axe softened up, reassuring him.

He got the cubes full, ready to serve them.

"In which caste were you part of?"

"I was a miner."

"I see"

Ha. Maybe he could give it a try, after all. Axe smiled again.

"We'll get new books soon. Maybe it would be the opportunity for you to try."

"…You think so?"

"Yes. You, Jetstorm, Slipstream…during doubts where you would wish to escape into something…another universe…"

Axe handed the plate over. Drift remained silent, as if he was thinking about it. In the end, he grabbed the plate and headed for the refectory.

By this side, Jetstorm and Slipstream silently witnessed the scene. Axe turned back to them.

"…Do you resent Mister Drift?" Jetstorm asked. "…About today?"

Axe let out a sigh.

"He did nothing wrong but…it could have cost him dearly. Like for you…if he wishes to be part of the team, he will have to learn how to fight like a warrior. He will have to follow our rules."

He didn't have his laser-gun anymore, now.

Jetstorm and Slipstream nodded. They were about to leave when Axe called them.

"You can too"

"What?" Jetstorm frowned.

"We can teach you to read."

They looked surprised. Jetstorm shook his helm, a sad look on his face.

"Sorry…"

"About what?"

"…You shouldn't teach tools to read"

They left the room to join Drift back.