CHAPTER 47
He could witness Star Saber's corpse lying down in front of him.
He felt it in his back.
He felt Outrigger's shock, Axe's pain, the femme's confusion…
Wing's sadness…
Especially Wing.
But was it sadness or disappointment?
Killing is an unforgivable sin.
Drift hadn't thought about it. He just watched Star Saber's corpse. At first, he didn't feel anything. He tried to justify his act. Star Saber had killed Dai Atlas, he'd deeply endangered them, he had wronged Jetstorm and Slipstream…
He only deserved death…he'd already killed…he'd killed an innocent. He could kill a monster…
Then…guilt and sadness crushed upon him hard.
Drift dropped his sword. In the end, it struck him.
He'd murdered Star Saber, using Wing's Great Sword.
Gasket had killed too…out of self-defence.
No. Drift hadn't killed out of self-defence. That's pure revenge. He'd committed horrible acts and had targeted Minicons…in Primus' name. He'd ratted them out to the worst individual…
He hadn't had such an excuse…
"…Drift…"
Wing didn't finish his sentence. A scream coming out from the sky interrupted him. It kind of relieved Drift.
He wouldn't have to hear what he had to say…
Beak flied over to them. He landed on Outrigger's arm. Outrigger mechanically searched something, like a button on Beak's helm. Then he pressed it.
A hologram displaying Crystal Cities appeared in front of them.
"…Where are they?" Drift asked, a weak tone.
Outrigger didn't reply. He just pointed something, seeking any possible hint leading them to Jetstorm and Slipstream…
Please…they have to be safe!
"Here!"
Suddenly, his digit froze on something.
Drift rushed over to check what it was.
What was it…?
He got it.
The ship…the one he'd used to travel…the one that had brought them over to the Crystal Cities.
It had been activated.
Drift wasn't thinking.
As soon as he had found the problem, as soon as the ship' lights went on, he'd transformed into his alt-mode, driving back to the old place where Shadow Raker's ancient ship had been located.
"Drift!"
No…No. He wouldn't listen to him.
Wing was running after him.
Like a mad bot, the orange one drove faster through Cities. He mustn't miss it…he had to make it before the ship takes off!
Jetstorm and Slipstream would disappear…for good…
"Drift…"
"Leave me alone, please!"
"I can't let you go there alone!"
There was some despair in his voice.
Drift wished he could slow down to hug him…to kiss him…but he couldn't…he didn't have any time left…
Would Wing still want Drift to hug and kiss him?
"…It's my fight…"
"Drift!"
"You can't help me with this!"
I don't want to endanger you any longer, Drift thought.
He didn't hear Wing's answer. He sped up before Wing could catch him.
Finally, he saw it. Shadow Raker's ship.
Thanks Primus. It hadn't taken off yet. Though it was only a matter of time…
As soon as he was close enough, Drift transformed then rushed over to the doors. They were still opened. Drift ran to them before they were shut off.
He'd already noticed him…definitely…
Drift's spark fastened again. The thought of meeting him again…meeting his old mentor, the one he had tried to escape from…it made him froze for one second.
Almost.
Memories appeared again, as flashbacks. Shadow Raker punching Jetstorm after the latter had shattered his blade off, the Insecticon threatening Jetstorm to make Slipstream kill an innocent bot, his old mentor torturing Minicons in his own room…
And he hadn't still realized how cruel his actions had been…
But at the same time, these thoughts pushed him to keep on. If he let Minicons return to their old Master, they wouldn't survive.
That was a good motivation to go on…he had to go on. As soon as doors were closing, Drift jumped inside.
He looked around. He hadn't returned to the ship since his arrival here…
Everything seemed so dark…or maybe was it due to his time in the Circle of Light?
Drift cautiously walked, trying to silent his steps' noises. He realized that he hadn't taken any weapon. Stress came over him again. In the end, he took many breaths to calm himself down.
That's a bad idea to face Shadow Raker…the Insecticon would definitely have the upper hand…
He just needed to find—
"Jetstorm? Slipstream?" He quietly called.
No one answered. He blindly walked forward, grabbing the wall in order not to fall down…
He called them again.
"…Mister Drift…"
He heard their voices. Slipstream's voice.
Drift struggled hard not to rush over them.
He must remain discreet.
"Mister Drift…"
Jetstorm's voice, this time. Drift walked faster. He quickly came in a room.
Maybe was it a trap…
He caught sight of them.
Jetstorm and Slipstream, stuck on the wall by spider webs.
Relief came upon the orange bot.
He'd known they were alive…instinct had pushed him over to continue. Drift put a digit on his mouth, quietly ordering them to be silent. He then walked over to them.
From far, he couldn't notice it. But as soon as he walked closer, he realized that there were so many bruises on Jetstorm's face. Slipstream had some too, though in a lesser extent. And he had supposedly been the favourite one…
Anger came back. But it wasn't the right time to act on impulse.
He mustn't forget Wing's advices…
"…I will free you."
At first, it had only been spider webs. But Drift quickly realized that they had been way more difficult to tear apart. The thought of the sword struck him. He cursed himself because he hadn't kept it. Drift kept tearing spider webs to free them.
"…It will be alright…" he tried to get them reassured.
In a sharp move, he freed Slipstream first, then Jetstorm. Both Minicons dried themselves off, trying to clean the webs' remains off their armours.
"…You came for us?" Jetstorm asked.
Drift nodded.
Of course. He wanted to say it, as if it was a natural matter.
Maybe it was.
"Let's leave…" Drift muttered.
"Wise advice."
All three of them immediately turned back.
This voice…it will always scare him…
Shadow Raker appeared in the entrance. The same smirk since the day they'd met. But this time, his two blades were out.
Whatever mask he used, his intentions were clear.
The only thing Drift could do was putting himself in front of Minicons.
Even without any weapon, he was still the only obstacle.
"It had been quite a time, Deadlock" Shadow Raker said.
Despite his smile, it still betrayed his hatred and grudge.
"…My name is Drift…"
"Furthermore, you used a fake name. Just to hide away…however, it doesn't work on me, Deadlock."
Behind, Drift could feel the Minicons' fear and horror.
"How dared you?" He calmly questioned him.
"You are a criminal. A murderer."
"Like you, Deadlock"
Shadow Raker slowly stepped ahead.
"And you were my best element…your act is unforgivable. You swore an absolute loyalty to me, Deadlock."
"You didn't fulfil your own oaths either!"
Drift almost regretted his words.
His fear of his old mentor, his urge to make him proud…all of it came back.
"You know…I liked you, Deadlock"
There was some sadness in his voice…was it genuine or false?
That's always difficult to know, when it came to Shadow Raker…
"And if you just ran away, I would have let it slide. I would have offered you a second chance because no one else had ever made it that far under my training. I would have let you come back…and we would have acted as if it had never happened."
No…
"But you stole something, Deadlock."
"You stole too."
"Yes. But they are my properties, Deadlock."
"Don't say that word…"
"What? 'Properties?'"
He made another step. The sword aimed at the orange bot.
Deadlock moved back. He tried to find an issue…a way to exit…
"And what will you do to me, Deadlock? I'm the one who trained you. I'm your Master"
My Master is Wing, Drift thought. He had been the one who taught him the real importance of martial arts…
"You can't fight me. You can't fight anyone"
"I will not let you take Jetstorm and Slipstream."
"Would you risk your life for Minicons?"
Disappointment appeared on Shadow Raker's face. He didn't even try to hide it.
"Don't you understand?"
The blade looked ready to stab him. Drift still looked around, everywhere…Minicons must escape…they must escape…
In one way or another…they mustn't be caught.
"You will never leave me, Deadlock. You will never escape me. I'm the one who made you. Even if you escaped once, I'll always find you. Always."
It wasn't a threat…it was a promise.
He'd given his word…
It was an oath.
"You'll always belong to me. One day or another, you'll be caught by your sins."
Fear went stronger.
There was no way out to—
Then, Drift touched it.
Under his digits, he noticed a red button. Used for emergency.
"…Be ready" He whispered to Minicons.
Shadow Raker had his blade up.
Drift pressed the button.
As soon as it was said, the ship's gates opened again. Air stream suddenly slapped their faces inside the ship. It caught Shadow Raker off guards. The Insecticon stepped back. Drift used this chance to grab Minicons. Jetstorm under his right arm, Slipstream under his left arm, he pushed Shadow Raker away by using his shoulderplates, then he kicked him hard in the stomach. It immediately cut Shadow Raker's breath.
He then hastily made his way to the exit.
"No!"
Drift didn't listen to him. He didn't hear anything.
He jumped out of the ship. As soon as he was outside, he nearly collapsed in his landing, but he managed to remain on his two pedes.
He turned back to the ship.
Shadow Raker was still standing up in the entrance. His wings extended, he looked ready to pursue them.
Then he stopped. His face was struck with fear.
Drift didn't understand…until he caught sight of his comrades from far.
Wing, Axe, Outrigger…
He looked back at Shadow Raker.
He stood no chance against them.
Then his face displayed anger.
His optics cried out for revenge.
"...Next time, your colleagues wouldn't be there to help you, Deadlock."
Then he vanished.
Before the group could reach them, the dark ship had already taken off.