CHAPTER 41
"If you keep acting like this…you'll become like Nova Prime."
These words had been Dai Atlas's…
Walking through empty halls, at a time where everybody was supposed to be asleep in their flats, Star Saber minded his own business. He'd just came back from an intense training with Dai Atlas.
A match had followed. Star Saber had been the loser. However, it wasn't surprising. Dai Atlas had always been the most powerful out all of them. He'd been by Nova Prime's side. He'd probably endured a hellish training to come to such a level.
Way more powerful than every reunited member living here…
The most powerful one, the strongest one…and that's the reason why he'd been the leader.
The Circle of Light had been created a million of years ago…and nothing had changed.
Star Saber let out a sigh. He kept walking.
His conflict with Axe had happened a month ago. Since that event, the other members avoided him. Axe didn't even talk to him anymore.
Because he'd got these books burnt, he'd been viewed as the bad guy.
Of course, the other members didn't understand. He'd been one of oldest members here. He'd become part of the Circle right after Dai Atlas' entrance and the creation of a factionless society. He was way more experienced. He knew, more than anyone, that these books had been cursed.
Rags about different Cybertronian religions…There were "many" religions here.
How could Axe believe in such atrocities? How could he bring them in?
There was only one religion here. The only religion. One God. Primus.
Cybetronians shouldn't think otherwise. Else, it was a sin. A heresy.
They would get cursed by Primus, if they dared worship another supposed god…
Dai Atlas. God Map. Beside Star Saber, no one else could be more faithful. Yet, Dai Atlas had allowed these books in such a sacred place.
Exactly like the last time.
Yet Star Saber thought he was too lenient. Too weak about some things. He'd allowed Wing in the Circle of Light and it made him sick. Gasket had left but the other sin had remained in…and got responsibilities.
He let Minicons come in Primus' sanctuary…creatures that didn't belong to Him.
What's wrong with him?
Before, none of this would have been tolerated.
Speaking of…he saw them. With Outrigger. They spread lies in the young bot's audios. What were they saying?
Were they trying to lure him in the sinful side?
Star Saber stopped. Outrigger and miniatures immediately stopped as soon as they caught sight of him.
"Oh. Star Saber" Outrigger said.
"What are you doing?"
They plotted. What for?
Star Saber knew they shouldn't have given them access to the Circle of Light.
Just like Drift. Or rather, Deadlock. A Decepticon stayed a Decepticon. Nothing could ever change such a thing.
"Oh huh…we were playing" Outrigger said.
Jetstorm and Slipstream smiled then bowed to him.
Even their smiles were vile.
"Get out. I must talk with Outrigger."
Minicons' smiles vanished. How could they be allowed to exist? How could they feel? Like them?
No. They didn't feel anything. They weren't living beings anyway.
In the end, both creatures left the hall to get to Outrigger's flat. Star Saber stared down at the young bot. The latter gave him a stern glare.
"They are nice."
"You shouldn't hang on with them."
"They are my friends"
"Such a word 'friend' can't belong to them."
He was just a child. A stupid child that Dai Atlas had given the "member" status to. Just in order to make Outrigger look good.
Even he was attracted to these abominations.
"They help me more than you could ever help me." Outrigger retorted, anger obvious in his voice.
"You believe you are part of us. You think you are someone important. But trust me. You are nothing. That's the very reason why you aren't treated as such."
Outrigger's expression fell apart.
Star Saber felt nothing to it. Behind his mask, he stared at him back with cold optics.
The young bot walked away, suppressing his feelings.
Star Saber didn't feel anything. Outrigger was just a heretic bot like the others.
Heretic people. Dai Atlas should take care of them.
Soon, Axe reappeared in the halls. He'd come home late. It had started a month ago. He left for the day then came back late in the night.
Star Saber knew. That wasn't only for energon.
He found the answer way easier than he initially thought.
At the Atynx square, Star Saber was drawn to a crowd surrounding a stage. He frowned, walking closer to it.
On the stage, a green femme.
Star Saber raised one eyebrow. He recognized her. She'd been the one that he'd caught sight of, along with Axe.
The one who'd offered him these cursed books…
"No one is all for eternity."
He observed the crowd. He observed each bot hanging on her every word…then he found him.
Axe.
"Solus Prime watches over us and heals our wounds. There is no wrong end. There is only a rebirth."
Axe…his comrade…wasn't seeking energon.
He was part of a cult.
He was listening to these abominations.
Why wasn't that femme mentioning Primus? Why was she talking about Solus?
A cult.
And that femme was a guru.
He stared back at Axe. His comrade was listening to that femme…he looked deeply fascinated.
The worst? He was believing in it. He was believing in these stories.
Many Cybertronian religions…
"You all deserve to be loved."
The femme smiled to the crowd. Then everyone clapped.
They clapped to that abomination…How could they dare?
If Axe clapped too…
He did. His comrade…one of purest members in the Circle of Light…
Was he part of these sinners?
Star Saber just stared at him, struck with horror.
Had he been manipulated by that guru?
How had it been possible? Had he lost his mind? Yes…He'd probably lost his mind.
He didn't see anything else.
When he watched Axe walk closer to hug that guru, Star Saber couldn't bear such a sight. It was beyond him.
He just left the place.
Wing…had been in a joyous mood lately.
It got Star Saber intrigued.
Even though he despised his single existence, his behaviour left him a bit curious. Wing was usually calm and didn't express anything but professional kindness to motivate others in training or in believing his stories to create a better world.
A better world involving a glitch…
The same glitch as Gasket…the same sin.
Yet Wing laughed more. He looked more…relaxed. More laidback. During their trainings, Star Saber noticed mistakes he'd committed. Wing was absolutely inflexible when it came to training. However, it didn't matter. Unlike usual times.
However, Deadlock managed to defend himself against his blades now. Unlike the previous times, where he hadn't been able to reach him.
It was…strange.
At the end of his training, Star Saber didn't leave the Dojo.
No. He kept watching Wing spar with his student.
Even…something in their behaviour had changed. Wing didn't use the same stern and strict tone toward Deadlock.
"Take care of your stance" Wing softly said before he walked past behind him to correct his position.
Instead…he felt something else.
Deadlock didn't protest. There was no annoyance, no irritation.
No. Instead he was smiling. The orange bot never smiled. However, these smiles were given to one special person.
He let him do, even leaning against Wing who was standing up behind him. The white bot didn't bat one optic.
Star Saber wouldn't believe it as a training to become part of the team one second. It looked like a recreation. A childish game. As if two friends sparred…
He then watched as Wing's arms wrapped around Drift's shoulderplates to make him stand still.
"Stop it" The white bot chuckled, amused.
"What can I do? Can you reexplain positions to me, teacher?"
For one instant, he almost caught sight of red on Wing's cheekplates.
This tender yet awkward expression…
Star Saber recognized it.
The same expression he'd had with Gasket…
He then stared at Wing, then Deadlock.
And then Deadlock. Then Wing again.
He remained silent.
He shouldn't have been surprised.
Deadlock, a Decepticon. And Wing. A sinner who'd probably got a glitch in his processor…
Of course it would happen, with how close they had been. Decepticons didn't know the meaning of morality.
Yet…Star Saber twitched.
He left the training room without any sound.
During millions of years, nothing had ever changed. Nothing had changed…and Axe hadn't become a heretic worshiper of Solus Prime. Minicons had no reason to be and Wing had kept his lifestyle to himself.
Yet…everything had changed in one day.
Star Saber didn't view the Circle of Light the same way. Instead of watching powerful warriors protecting the Crystal Cities…he was watching sinners surrounding him.
Sinners who mocked Primus. Sinners who'd left the right path.
Outrigger, Axe, Wing…
And Dai Atlas hadn't seen anything. Star Saber thought he should have noticed it sooner.
Deadlock, these creatures, this femme…they would lead to their downfall.
They would lead to his downfall.
He stared at stained glasses. His God. Primus, giving him a stern stare.
As if He resented him, because he hadn't reacted sooner…
Star Saber stopped. Shame and guilt took over him.
He'd disappointed Him.
He joined his servos.
"I'm sorry"
He paused. Primus didn't answer back. Yet He was listening.
"We should have disobeyed to Dai Atlas. This holocaust of atheists should have happened a long time ago…"
He whispered. He prayed.
Dai Atlas was too weak…
Primus was angry. Primus wanted him to act.
Star Saber prayed again. He had to redeem himself.
He had to intervene…doing anything…
"…I will not disappoint You any longer…"
He saluted then sat up. In a fast step, he headed for Dai Atlas' apartments.
He'd to warn him.