CHAPTER 45
Outrigger was screaming.
While he was running, he called for Jetstorm and Slipstream, almost losing his voice in the process. Around him, other passers-by stared at him like if he was crazy.
Outrigger didn't care.
That's impossible! They couldn't be far!
Jetstorm…Slipstream…
He'd left them only for two minutes! Two minutes while the streets were still crowded.
Someone could have seen anything!
Outrigger felt like he was catching his breath. His surroundings distorted around him while running and screaming…
They were small…they were in the crowd…that's the reason why he'd lost them…
No…they couldn't be too far…or maybe was it just a joke! That wouldn't be out of character from them!
But Outrigger didn't believe it.
"Jetstorm! Slipstream!"
Outrigger called. Outrigger begged…
He had to find them…
Nothing had happened to them…
Maybe they'd just…come back to the base…
Suddenly, he felt a strong grip on his shoulder. It startled Outrigger. For one moment, hope took over him. It was them…he'd found them…
"What are you doing here?"
Reality struck him hard. Axe gave him a glare, filled with anger and worry. Then relief appeared on his face. He was out of breath as well. Was he running while researching them as well?
"Axe…"
"Outrigger…We forbad it! You aren't allowed to go outside! When will you ever listen, for the sake of Primus?" The yellow and purple bot cried out, mad.
Outrigger gritted his dentas. He was tearing up, pressure overwhelming him. Axe grabbed his arm.
"We're coming home now!"
"Axe…I…"
No hint of Jetstorm or Slipstream around them.
He wouldn't find them alone…
In the end, tears were running down his face.
"Axe…I lost…Jetstorm and Slipstream…"
His comrade's answer went quick.
"What?"
"I don't know where they are…"
Outrigger's voice broke. He hadn't the strength to struggle anymore and let his head fall down on Axe's chassis.
The yellow and purple bot's expression immediately changed. There was no more anger. Worry came back. However, he wasn't shouting anymore. He took a calmer tone, grabbing the young bot's shoulderplates to force him to look back.
"Where did you see them last?"
"…Here…"
Outrigger didn't feel like a member of the Circle of Light anymore.
He felt like a lost child…
"…Okay. Don't worry…we'll find them…" Axe tried to reassure him.
However, his tone didn't sound convincing.
They'd separately searched the area many times. They'd asked many bots if they had caught sight of black and orange Minicons but no one could have given them a proper answer.
At first, Outrigger had thought that Axe would find them easily. He was more experienced, had a better knowledge of the City…but when Axe and Outrigger joined at the Atynx Market Square and at the moment where Outrigger realized that there was nobody along with the yellow and purple bot, Outrigger broke down in tears again.
Axe glanced back at him, then put a servo on his earshot. He was communicating with the other members.
"Wing…Dai Atlas…Star Saber…we've got a problem. Can you come here?"
"It's my fault…" Outrigger cried.
He shouldn't have offered them to join him…
He shouldn't have left them behind…
"Pull yourself together" Axe answered, a stern tone. "It'll be better to find them"
Outrigger bit his lipplate then nodded, though it didn't erase guilt and fear tightening his spark hard.
-
They all joined the square, a few minutes later. They'd been rather quick to answer to the call. Now streets were deserted. Sun was fading behind Omega' dunes.
The first ones had been Wing and Drift. The orange bot didn't even hide his panic. As soon as he appeared, he rushed over to Outrigger.
"What happened?"
Outrigger looked down. He wasn't able to confront him.
"Outrigger! Tell me what happened!" Drift insisted, grabbing Outrigger's shoulderplates and shaking him.
"Drift! Calm down right now!"
Wing put himself between them and pushed Drift away with a servo over his chassis, giving him a warning glare. Drift wasn't calming down. He grabbed his face, completely devastated by what'd happened.
Axe thought it was the reaction of a worried parent…
Maybe that's the case…
Dai Atlas and Star Saber appeared soon afterward. Dai Atlas gave a cold stare to Outrigger, but didn't comment anything. Axe had already explained everything to him via commlink. The group formed a circle, Dai Atlas at the centre of it.
"Please" Drift muttered. "…We have to find them…"
"They are only Minicons" Star Saber grumbled.
Drift ignored him. He just spoke to Dai Atlas. If he took a decision, the others would follow him afterward…
"…They'll not survive outside"
"I know"
Dai Atlas let out a sigh. Drift understood that it was his own way to deal with his worry.
"…They're one of us now. We'll find them. They mustn't be far."
"Thanks…"
"Outrigger. Axe. Did you already search the area?"
Both of them nodded.
"Okay" Dai Atlas stated. "So, we just need to search further. Crystal Cities are large. We'll split in many groups. Star Saber, Axe…you'll go to Omega deserts. Wing and Outrigger will go to the east. Drift and I…We'll take the north. If someone learns anything, just communicate then we'll join you. Understood?"
"Understood" The rest of the group stated.
Drift didn't feel reassured. Yet he'd a strange feeling in his stomach…as if painful memories came back in his mind…
Whenever he thought of Jetstorm and Slipstream…he always expected the worst.
Yet he wasn't their Master…
But he'd joined the Circle of Light along with them.
In order to find a Deployer for them…but this idea had been out of his mind lately…
He just wanted one thing: find them. See them again.
He felt a servo on his shoulderplate.
"…It'll be okay, Drift"
Drift stared at Wing. He wanted to believe him. Wing wanted to remain discreet. However, he still leaned on to kiss him on the cheek.
He didn't care about the others' reaction. He just felt Dai Atlas tensing up.
It didn't matter right now. He nodded and followed Dai Atlas. Then the group splat and everyone headed to the direction Dai Atlas had given them.
Dai Atlas and Drift came in Crystal Cities' poor areas, at the surface. Around them, bots were living in slums, some of them begging while some others were digging in the ground in order to search energon.
Drift should have sympathized with these homeless bots. According to Dai Atlas' expression, the bot obviously sympathized with them. Maybe was he still thinking of Gasket? However, bad memories went worse. His concern for Minicons went stronger.
Worry had never been that strong…
"Stop stressing" Dai Atlas ordered him, a strict tone. "We'll find them"
"But—"
If something had happened to them…
If someone…had harmed them…
The giant bot seemed to have read his mind.
"…We're the Circle of Light" Dai Atlas stated. "We're able to fight entire armed troops of any faction. We'll be able to stop anyone would wish to harm them"
Dai Atlas pulled his blades out. A white katana as well as his Great Sword, this one having a blue colour. Watching them, Drift didn't doubt of their power.
"…Don't hurt him, okay?"
"What?"
"You know who I'm talking about." The blue bot said. "Don't endanger him"
Drift got the message. He nodded.
Dai Atlas had already guessed.
They walked past many beggars. One after another, Drift showed them a picture of Jetstorm and Slipstream while using a hologram.
"…Have you seen them?"
Please…
Have you seen these Minicons?
However, it didn't work. Bots shook their heads, answering with a no. One of them even tried to con them by asking for money in exchange of information.
They kept on, going in another street of the area.
Same thing.
"Have you seen them?"
No. No. That's not my problem. That's what bots were saying.
"I think it's useless" Dai Atlas sighed. "They don't care"
No one will ever help them…
It contradicted Wing's behaviour.
No one deserved their help…
Yet Drift believed in Wing.
He believed his mentor…
I don't need any reason to help you.
They stopped in front of a grey bot, showing them the picture.
"Have you seen them?"
The beggar sat up, narrowing optics. He took his time to watch the picture. Drift expected him to do like the others. No. I never saw them. That's not my problem.
"…Yes"
"Excuse me?"
Drift didn't hear well.
"Yes. Minicons like them…I saw them"
"Where?"
The bot pointed a bridge.
"They took the bridge leading to the rich areas."
Dai Atlas and Drift exchanged a shocked look.
Why would they have gone here?
Rich areas…
Maybe they were still here!
Drift was about to rush over to the bridge but the bot added something else.
"They weren't alone"
"What?"
"They were probably with their Deployer"
The bot had his arms crossed. Drift's optics widened, reality striking him like a bomb.
Their Deployer?
"…What did they look like?" Dai Atlas asked.
No…It couldn't be…
"…He was red and wore a mask"
Drift nearly collapsed.
Only one person fit that description. He refused to believe it.
No. He shouldn't have been surprised…
Instead, he was terrified.
What had he done? What had he done to…Jetstorm and Slipstream?
Nearby, the giant remained calm. However, Drift easily guessed that he was furious inside.
He remained silent. It lasted a few seconds. In the end, he put a servo at his earshot.
"Everyone…join us"
His tone didn't ask for discussion.
He asked the beggar to stay until the group joined them.
"Dai Atlas?" Wing asked. "What's going on?"
The giant didn't reply. He didn't even look at them.
Instead he focused on Star Saber.
When he walked closer, Drift only wanted to do one thing: lunging at him. Pinning him against a wall to make him speak.
But maybe there was hope…maybe they were wrong…
But behind his mask, Star Saber didn't display any emotion.
Dai Atlas turned back to the beggar. He pointed at Star Saber.
"…Was it him?"
No…
It couldn't be him…
Drift tried to convince himself hard…to not avail.
If that's him…so where were—
Drift felt his circuits burning up.
His hope was crushed when the bot nodded.
"Yes"
Star Saber didn't move. He didn't act.
How could he feel? Anger, betrayal? No. Anguish. Fear.
Hatred.
Drift made one step. Two steps. Then he didn't control himself anymore. He was about to charge when an arm grabbed his and pulled him backward.
"No, Drift!"
"Wing! Calm him down!"
His mentor's voice. It didn't calm him down. He struggled harder with rage. Wing's arms wrapped around his body in order to control him. Drift screamed. It was like he was possessed. He screamed horrible things. To Star Saber…he only wanted one thing.
He wanted him to speak.
The masked bot still didn't react.
Dai Atlas slowly walked closer to Star Saber.
"…What have you done?"
Shock marked his voice.
"Star Saber…What have you done with Jetstorm and Slipstream?"
No answer.
"WILL YOU SPEAK?" Dai Atlas violently burst out.
Nearby, Axe pushed Outrigger behind. Like to protect him if there were any fight coming.
Finally, Star Saber spoke.
"…They were abominations"
"DON'T TELL ME YOU DID WHAT I THINK YOU DID!"
Dai Atlas didn't control himself either. Drift struggled harder.
No! He didn't want to believe it!
"…They were heretics…creatures that didn't deserve to exist…just like you…"
"What?"
Star Saber whispered. However, this time, spite and grudge were obvious in his voice.
Drift was horrified by his words.
"…Heretics…sinners…all of you are…Minicons who didn't have been created by Primus…"
Wing had to grab Drift's wrist again to maintain him while Star Saber said this.
"You consort with heretics…your Way of Flame bitch, Axe…she'll lead to your downfall"
Axe clenched his fists, but didn't react.
"…Pagans having impure relationships…"
Drift felt Wing tensing up. Dai Atlas shook his head. He didn't want to believe it either. It was obvious.
"Star Saber…"
"Even you, Dai Atlas…you were supposed to be Primus' best henchman. You dare welcome these people in the Circle of Light"
"Star Saber, shut up!" Dai Atlas cried out.
"You were supposed to lead us to victory…but we could have won if you had allowed this atheists holocaust. We could have started with your members…sacrificing the ones who didn't follow the way of the faith…The real faith. The true Primus."
Dai Atlas walked closer, in a fast step. Dai Atlas would definitely tear his head off right now.
"DON'T YOU DARE PRONOUNCE PRIMUS AND HOLOCAUST WORDS IN THE SAME SENTENCE, STAR SABER! IT IS NOT THE GOAL OF THE CIRCLE OF LIGHT! I WOULD NEVER ALLOW SUCH A THING TO HAPPEN!"
That's rage. Yet Star Saber kept speaking.
"I should have sacrificed Minicons first…I would have offered them to Primus. He would have rewarded me. But someone else…will do the job…"
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
"how dared you, Dai Atlas? How dared you? You consorted with our enemies!"
"Star Saber, enough!"
"You're nothing…and you dare speak in our God's name…you met a Titan…you think you are a firm believer of Primus but you are just a parody of it…A pagan."
He lost his calm.
"Star Saber…"
"Heretic…"
"Enough!"
"Apostate! Unbeliever! Impostor! ABOMINATION!"
Dai Atlas violently grabbed his shoulders and had him pinned against the wall.
"SHUT UP!"
He couldn't say another word.
A loud noise followed.
As if something had been perforated…
At the moment where Dai Atlas screamed, a sword stabbed him through the body, the blade coming out of his back.
Energon covered the blade…then fell down on the ground.
Dai Atlas let out a strangled cry. A scream was heard. Who screamed? Drift couldn't guess.
Star Saber turned Dai Atlas around.
He was the one, holding the sword that had stabbed Dai Atlas.
The Great Sword of Star Saber.
"You are nothing, Dai Atlas. You disappointed Cybertron. You disappointed your raison d'etre."
Dai Atlas stared back at him in disbelief. Energon was running out of his mouthplate. Out of his optics...
Then, horror…
"Your God isn't here for you"
Star Saber pulled the sword out then stabbed Dai Atlas again.
This time, in the spark.
"…Primus hates you"
Dai Atlas fell down on the ground, his own Great sword following him.
Drift stared at it.
That's if the sword flashed, letting all sparkles out…then the light slowly faded…
For good.
Then his bleeding optics' light went out as well.
Dai Atlas didn't move anymore.
Silence fell down…then Axe let out a shrieking scream out of rage and lunged over at Star Saber, his weapon up.