CHAPTER 43
Wing had come back quite early at his flat, this morning. Jetstorm and Slipstream had still been in recharge when Drift had greeted him. The white bot didn't usually come out of the blue since he always warned him before. Especially since the beginning of their new relationship.
Truth to be told, their new interactions had been…agreeable. As much as in training as in private. Not that it hadn't been the case before, but the white bot had become way more caring, affectionate toward him. Even though Drift and Wing had chosen to stay discreet for now, to the point that no one else was aware, even not Minicons, such a tenderness happened in different ways: a caress on the servo whenever the others didn't look, shared looks full of innuendos, visits in isolated places or just at each other's flat to express their feelings freely.
Drift had always believed that a relationship would be a burden to survival.
But it reminded him that there was something else other than survival in that world. Something that the conflict on Cybertron had made people forget.
At first, he'd thought that because of a last-minute emergency – such as a new mission – Wing had come to warn him that the training wouldn't stand today. But when he caught sight of a serious expression on his mentor's face, he quickly understood that there was something else.
"…Dai Atlas is waiting for you."
"What?"
Drift spoke less loudly, turning back to Jetstorm and Slipstream. None of them woke up. Only Slipstream moved in his recharge.
"…He's waiting in the audience room" Wing stated.
"For which reason?"
"He didn't tell me. He just summoned us."
Drift guessed that Wing was also worried.
The audience room…just like at his arrival…
Why?
At this moment, many thoughts happened in Drift's processor. The reasons why Dai Atlas summoned them…He, Jetstorm and Slipstream…
Not only him…
Was he intending to…punish him? For something that he didn't remember?
Or maybe had he enough and had he chosen to exclude Drift and the Minicons for good?
This thought felt like a sentence. He stared back at Wing, shocked.
"I did everything. Did you hear me? I did EVERYTHING!"
"Drift…calm down."
"I trained hard! I obeyed to any order! I accomplished the most difficult tasks and right at the moment where I thought I won my place here…he…he just decides to exclude me?"
At the exact time where he'd felt happiness…
At the exact time where he'd found Wing…
Was he planning to take everything away from him?
"Please, Drift…Just go to awake Jetstorm and Slipstream up. Don't ask for more. Don't get angry. Please."
As if Wing begged him to…Drift watched as the white bot walked closer to him.
Drift closed his optics in order to receive a kiss when suddenly, his attention was drawn to Jetstorm and Slipstream who yawned, stretching.
Wing stopped. He looked down.
"…Don't make us wait."
And he left the hall, vanishing.
Exactly like the first day…
The golden and white door opening to them.
Drift stopping, Jetstorm and Slipstream by his side, as scared as he was, fearing about what could likely to happen…
The other Circle of Light members who let them come closer. Dai Atlas at the middle. Axe and Star Saber at their respective places. Outrigger and Wing a bit apart.
All of them harboured a solemn expression. But as soon as Drift's optics met Star Saber', he definitely guessed a smile behind his mask.
He got it. It didn't mean anything good.
"Drift"
Dai Atlas spoke first. Drift took Wing's advices and remained silent.
"…Yes?"
"You have been a Decepticon. Jetstorm and Slipstream had been Decepticons."
Drift frowned. Of course.
He remembered his last conversation with Dai Atlas.
Because you are like me. Maybe Wing saw something in you the same way Metrotitan saw something in me.
Now, it didn't mean anything else?
"You have been a thief. You attacked other bots. You murdered. All these crimes…are unforgivable."
That's in order to protect Jetstorm and Slipstream.
That's to survive.
It had been his way of thinking…before meeting Wing.
He stared back at his lover.
This latter remained impassive. It wasn't something usual with him. He didn't even speak to stand up for him. He didn't talk about Drift's training, about his motivation, he didn't assure that he wasn't a Decepticon anymore…that he wouldn't take up his old habits…
There was nothing of it.
While at his first day here, he—
"But today…all these crimes are all forgotten."
He froze.
Everyone turned back to Dai Atlas.
They all shared a same, confused expression. The orange bot didn't understand.
"…I noticed your progress. I took your motivation into account. I know you mean good now. You do everything to reach your goal."
Yes…
Drift stayed silent.
"So, I see no reason why we shouldn't accept you as a member of our society."
"What?"
Star Saber's voice rose up. His tone was shaky. His smile had vanished.
Unlike Wing. This latter walked closer to Drift, facing Dai Atlas. He was giving him a reassuring presence.
"Changing for the sake of the Circle of Light." Dai Atlas declared. "Changing for the sake of Cybertron. Here is our motto. From now, you are one of us, Drift."
One of them…
Drift didn't dare believe it was reality.
Yet it was. Drift offered him a grateful smile in response.
Jetstorm and Slipstream's scared expression vanished, impressed as well.
They were part of the team…
"Forget your criminal past. Forget your past as a Shadow…and join the light" Dai Atlas completed before he stood up.
And Dai Atlas bowed.
Dai Atlas…bowing? Showing respect…to him?
Afterward, Axe followed.
He stood up then bowed.
The yellow and purple bot gave him a smile, meaning "welcome in the team, buddy".
Outrigger bowed as well.
Then, Wing bowed.
Drift didn't tear his optics off his lover.
He could stay with them…
Jetstorm and Slipstream would have a roof over their heads.
He would stay with Wing…
He wasn't viewed as an intruder anymore…
Now, Drift bowed too.
"…I'll not disappoint you"
"We will not disappoint you either" Jetstorm and Slipstream both added.
Dai Atlas gave them a nod. A hint of a smile could almost appear on his lips.
Star Saber stood up. For one instant, Drift thought that he would bow as well.
He didn't do anything. For one reason or another, it didn't surprise the orange bot.
"Star Saber!" Dai Atlas called him.
Star Saber didn't answer.
He just left his seat and headed to the door, leaving the room.
"You aren't alone"
He wasn't thinking anymore. He kept walking in a fast step, heading for her. He didn't stop, even shoving some other 'followers' away.
Heretics…
All of them were heretics…
"Don't give up. Don't lose hope."
That femme…that guru…
He quickly came over to her. She was finishing her stupid speech.
He watched her as she held her arms up, as if she was praying.
How did she dare? How could she pray here? In Crystal cities?
And Axe had been so blind…
"Sir…"
She finally noticed him. Surprise came over her face.
A supposedly innocent face…an angel face while there was nothing of it…
How did she dare?
"Sir?"
Star Saber didn't let her finish her sentence.
His fist was up and he violently struck her face with. The femme screamed in pain, falling on the ground, books' pages flying around, scattered all around her.
He heard shocked gasps coming from the crowd of scraplets who had been listening to her.
The femme held her face up. Her lip was open, energon running down her mouthplate.
The same mouthplate that she'd used to poison Axe.
"You aren't supposed to exist!" Star Saber shouted.
She looked up back at him, her breath coming faster and quicker.
Was she afraid of him?
"Cybertron! The other planets! The other galaxies don't need you! You are just vermin using people' weaknesses!"
"…Stop…" A bot said behind him.
He turned around and kicked the one who tried to interfere.
Primus…Primus watched him!
Primus…He shouldn't disappoint Him!
Dai Atlas, Axe, Wing…it was too late for them!
Not for him!
"You all deserve to die!" Star Saber kept on. "You and your sect! Why are you still alive? For the sake of everyone, die! Die! No one will ever miss you! It would do good to the society! It would put an end to Cybertron's conflict!"
The femme's optics went wet.
Star Saber kicked her. In her sides, this time.
He wasn't controlling himself anymore!
"You'll not join Primus! You'll not join Allspark! You are just trash! A trash that Primus hadn't created!"
If he could kill her…
Axe would open his optics.
"…Pretty good reaction"
He turned around.
A bot was standing up in front of him.
"However…Don't waste your time to such a filth" The bot smiled.
Who was he…?
He was a blue and black bot…
An Insecticon alt-mode.
Star Saber caught sight of two swords in their sheathes.
"…We need to talk"