CHAPTER 58

As it had been planned yesterday, Drift and Fracture joined Rollbar back to the canteen the day after.

They found him at the same table, the same Pad on his knees. He looked calm and didn't react when they got closer. Yet, as soon as Rollbar's optics met Fracture's, Drift watched him as he tensed up. Despite him, Rollbar's words from the day before came over in his mind.

"He's a bounty hunter…someone you need to avoid"

Drift should have expected it. Someone such as Fracture with that reputation…he could only perform a hateful job…to the point he was compared to the famous Lockdown.

And unfortunately, that's with that bounty hunter whom he had to team up with to join Jetstorm and Slipstream. Else, he would have nothing to do with him. Both sat down in front of Rollbar.

"So…about the reading" Fracture started, his usual devious smirk on his face. "What's the plan?"

Rollbar frowned.

"We can't talk here"

"We don't have other places to. We're running out of time as well. You're planning it for tonight. So, come on. Tell me. What's the plan? You've probably and already prepared everything."

"Yes. But you weren't supposed to be part of it at first" Rollbar retorted.

He let out a sigh. In the end, he leaned over them.

"First, it wouldn't be three of us…but four of us"

Drift and Fracture exchanged a look, a bit surprised.

"Really? Who is the fourth one?"

"…Him"

With a nod, Rollbar pointed at another bot at the end of the room, ordering a cube of energon. A quite tall and bulky bot.

"…Your cellmate" Fracture guessed.

"His name is Armorhide" Rollbar calmly stated. "I'm not advising you to use this same tone with him."

Indeed. They witnessed as Armorhide grabbed another prisoner by his neck and threw him off through the room, in a battle cry. Despite his calm demeanour, Drift watched Fracture raising one eyebrow before he pulled himself back together.

"I understand. That's your accomplice. It would have been impossible otherwise" Fracture stated.

Rollbar wasn't impressed. His cold attitude remained the same.

"…My cell is near the infirmary"

"Interesting" Fracture approved.

"If you want to join me…we'll meet tonight, after the cube"

An interesting plan…even Drift had to admit it. Fracture nodded.

"…It shouldn't be a problem"

Rollbar suddenly ordered him to be quiet. Nearby, a guard passed. The Autobot gave them a suspicious glance then moved away.

"…Don't get me disappointed" Fracture threatened him before he stood up.

Drift didn't follow him while the purple bot left the room. Rollbar put his Pad again. A brief silence passed before the bot spoke up.

"…Who is your family?"

The same exchange as yesterday resonated again.

I want to see my family again too

Rollbar's tone wasn't disdainful…he sounded curious.

"…Minicons"

"Minicons?"

"I swore to protect them" Drift said.

That's what he intended to do.

Rollbar didn't ask more and focused back on his Pad. Drift absent-mindedly followed his stare. He couldn't help but ask.

"…What is it about?"

"…Nothing special. A treasure hunt with a smuggler."

Adventures to read…he missed that.

Despite the bot's attitude, Drift guessed that Rollbar didn't show the same contempt that he'd toward Fracture.

Maybe he felt some compassion…at least, some sympathy toward Drift.

The evening came up quickly.

Truth to be told, all along the day, during breaks, during his chores, Drift hadn't been able to focus on anything else but the escape yet to come.

Even if Rollbar had apparently planned everything, he'd revealed nothing to the orange bot. The purple bot didn't know anything either. They knew nothing and it disturbed Drift. He wondered if the plan will work, if everything was straight…after all, prison was well kept. Any issue was supervised. To Drift, Rollbar wasn't an amateur but he still wondered about the success of his plan.

No…Drift hated uncertainty. He'd been uncertain his entire life.

When time came up, Drift and Fracture sat at the same table. Fracture acted as if everything was normal. He came to get his energon as if nothing happened. As if they hadn't planned to escape tonight.

As if, after the cube, they would join their cell back.

As if they were good prisoners…

Once the canteen was filled with enough of prisoners, he felt an elbow in his waist. Drift turned around. His cellmate was staring back at him.

He got it. That's the moment.

Then suddenly, Fracture fell down, screaming madly.

Drift froze. At first, he didn't understand. Fracture's screams went louder while prisoners' attention focused on him. Guards rushed over to him. The friendly guard leaned over the purple bot.

"What's wrong, Fracture?"

Fracture didn't answer. He pressed his stomach, letting out atrocious moans.

Drift realized it. He played it. And he played well. That definitely looked like a spark attack. He was probably used to it, as a bounty hunter.

It succeeded. The next moment, the guard ordered two others to take Fracture to the infirmary. The two Autobots helped Fracture up to lead him slowly to his destination.

Drift stared at his cube. He couldn't do the same thing. It would look suspicious. They'll be caught.

He'd to get to the infirmary. Quickly.

Then his stare focused on the bot in front of him.

A wrecker.

The orange bot realized it.

The best way…

He stood up. Then without any warning, Drift punched him right in the face. The wrecker fell. He then got up in a quick move, giving him a murderous glare.

Drift expected his counter-attack. He got it. As soon as the wrecker's fist collided with his face, Drift saw stars while he fell down to the ground. He collapsed while he heard guards screaming around him.

He woke up and looked around him.

He was lying on one of the infirmary's berths. Pain came over, much stronger than previously. Drift held his chin. Dried energon came out of his lips. The wrecker took his gloves off in his punch.

"I didn't know you were a masochist, Drift"

Fracture was on his berth as well. Drift glared back at him, inviting him not to comment anything. The purple bot chuckled then stood up.

At least, he was here.

"…Where are Rollbar and Armorhide?"

"They shouldn't be long."

"…Long?"

Drift suddenly felt naïve.

What a fool. It would have been too beautiful.

"…They are already trying to escape themselves"

"No. Are you kidding?"

Fracture went silent as soon as the medic appeared. Drift knew him. The same medic who'd offered him up the interesting option of joining Autobots. The one repeating how Optimus Prime was merciful.

This one walked up to him, holding a cube of a lighter shade of blue energon.

"Swallow it…it will ease your pain"

Drift grabbed the cube and caught sight of something behind the medic. The latter didn't notice anything.

The orange bot's optics widened as soon as he witnessed Fracture taking a hold of a chair, then strongly lifted it up above his head.

"Fracture, no!"

Too late. The chair hit the medic's head. This one collapsed. Immediately afterward, Drift rushed over to check his state, turning him over.

He was still alive.

"Let's go! Else they'll leave without us!"

Drift painfully stood up. He had to endure the pain. They shouldn't waste their time.

"Drift!"

The orange bot nodded.

They ran outside, searching for the cell.

Indeed. They were already at it. When they appeared behind the laser bars, Armorhide and Rollbar were already pushing their berths away with all their strengths. Drift suddenly felt a violent wave of wind hitting his face.

It came out from the big hole behind the berths. A hole through the wall.

"Are you trying to get rid of us?" Fracture growled.

"Only a guard possesses the code to get the doors opened" Armorhide retorted.

"Well, what if I find him? I can get the code" The purple bot replied.

"Sheesh. You can still try"

Armorhide turned back to his cellmate.

"How could tell them about our plan?"

"We don't have time for this"

"Sheesh. We can still kill them and leave!"

"I would like to see you try" Fracture granted him a sharp-teethed smirk.

Rollbar spoke up to them, while his cellmate was already sneaking his way in the hole, large enough for a bot of such a corpulence.

"…We'll not close it behind us"

"How kind of you"

Rollbar didn't reply anything and followed Armorhide who'd already vanished. Fracture and Drift remained planted in front of the cell. The purple bot clenched his fists and, before Drift could add anything, Fracture punched the wall in front of him.

"These bastards!"

"We're not friends, remember"

"Come on! We're smarter than that!"

"If you say so…"

Fracture looked around.

"And where are these guards whenever they are needed?"

"What are you doing here?"

Speaking of the devil…one of Autobot guards appeared in the hall. He wasn't alone. He was with another prisoner. Scrap. That crab. Fracture let out an annoyed sigh as soon as he caught sight of him.

Then his anger vanished.

Drift guessed.

"…Just a little stroll" Fracture smiled.

He winked at the orange bot.

And the purple bot charged at the guard.

"What are you—"

Drift didn't have time to react. The guard didn't have time to react. The purple bot threw an uppercut off at the guard's face. The Autobot defended himself and kicked him away while the crab was screaming madly. Unfortunately for the guard who'd pulled his laser-gun out, Fracture grabbed his wrist, planting his claws in. The Autobot screamed and Fracture headbutted him, sending him through a wall. In the end, the guard collapsed and Fracture knelt down to search him.

"Catch it!" Fracture screamed.

Drift noticed that's the pass. Fracture threw it at him. He reached out to receive it. Finally, Drift hurried up to the decoder. He would get Armorhide's and Rollbar' cell opened with it.

As soon as they opened, a red light appeared in the hall. Then siren noises resonated throughout the whole block. It almost made Drift's audios bleed.

"Scrap! The alert!" Fracture growled.

The purple bot rushed in the cell, not waiting for Drift. He knelt down to the hole, crawling up to it. As he was already inside, Drift realized that the crab was following him.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm one of you!"

"We didn't ask you anything!"

He heard screams in the halls. Guards were coming. Drift decided not to stay here and jumped in the hole, following Fracture who was already far in the darkness.

Outside, he just heard:

"Scrap! They escaped!"

In the long tunnel, Drift didn't know where he was going. He was completely lost, not knowing where this way would lead him out to. He just kept following it blindly. That's quite narrow. Many times, his head hit the wall. His pain went stronger while a nauseating smell almost made him throw up.

Despite all, Drift kept walking. The only thing he could see was Fracture's shape in front of him. He'd apparently had difficulties to find his way out as well.

Behind him, the crab was whining. Drift rolled his optics. Why did he have to be here now?

After an endless time, he heard Fracture's voice while a hint of light appeared in front of them.

"That's here!"

Fracture disappeared in jumping out. Drift realized that they were upstairs. A brief relief overwhelmed him…but he should remain careful.

Drift followed up and jumped as well.

"What?"

…and they suddenly landed in another cell.

"What's that mess?"

In front of him, two femmes glared at him, a threatening stance, servos over their hips. A few instants afterward, the crab jumped out as well, landing in a pitiful way. He slipped down and fell, nearly crushing Drift as well.

Fracture got up.

"Good evening, ladies. We're just passing by"

"But how many of you are from the XGXHX Block?" One of femmes shouted.

"They are not the smartest ones"

They stared at Clampdown, a disgusted expression.

"Haha…hi"

"We are not from the XGXHX Block." The purple bot answered.

He winked at one of them. A third one was on one of the berths. For one reason or another, it annoyed Drift further. They didn't have time for this.

"Oh. For once we meet males. We can leave them alive" The femme chuckled.

"Thanks. Where is the way out?"

"Follow your friends"

She pointed her cell's gate that had been left opened, a knocked out guard lying down in front of them. Rollbar and Armorhide had already taken care of that.

"Thanks. We give you the crab as a gift"

"What?" The crab shouted.

"You'll be alone with three beautiful femmes taking care of you" Fracture smiled. "Enjoy"

Without any other word, Fracture left the cell. Suddenly, siren noises came again. In that block now. They'll never see the end of it. Drift let out a sigh.

"…Excuse us" The samurai said.

He was too awkward to say anything else. The femme blew up a kiss at him. Drift raised one eyebrow then followed Fracture in the hall. At least he wasn't unhappy to get rid of that crab and leaving that place. The only good thing.

Halls led them to a door, taking them downstairs. Drift let out a sigh. Siren noises gave him a headache. He hoped that Fracture knew where they were going. Unless they happened to be in a labyrinth.

"And what about now?" Drift questioned him, a sarcastic tone.

"…That door"

He'd randomly offered that option in order not to look like a fool. The orange bot didn't waste his time and complied. He pressed a button to open it. Doors automatically opened. Drift and Fracture rushed inside.

They landed in a vast room. A room with many safes, all of them covering walls entirely. It only gave them a narrow path to walk through. At least they'd found their two other accomplices. Armorhide and Rollbar were at the other end of the room.

In front of a window they were trying to break.

Siren noises weren't stopping. Fracture rushed over to assist them.

"Are you dumb or what?" Fracture sneered.

"The window is armoured, Mister I-know-it-all"

"Move!"

Fracture punched him. Glass didn't even shake. Drift looked around.

In a few minutes, Autobot guards would come. If they could avoid any confrontation…

"We'll not be trapped here!"

Fracture kicked it.

Suddenly, Drift noticed something. Something written on a safe.

A number. Or a code…

C456

D523

G789

He realized what it was.

Cell numbers.

They were put in an alphabetical and ascending order. Immediately, Drift was seeking for his.

"Drift! What are you doing?"

Fracture noticed as Drift ran over safes, panicked. He knew it wasn't the right time…but if Drift could get his weapons back…

Weapons given by the Circle of Light.

Weapons given by Wing…

His number…

F456.

He finally found it. The same as Fracture's. Prisoners' numbers were probably chosen because they were put in the same cell.

They'd stopped a great number of Decepticons.

"Drift!"

Without any word, Drift punched the safe. It slightly dented it. Drift understood that it wasn't very resisting.

He punched again.

And again.

The safe got broken quite soon. Drift forced the door open to check what there was inside.

He got a relieved smile. He'd found them.

"Drift, you-oh! But that's very interesting!"

Fracture came over close by behind, while he took his sword and katana out.

Autobots had kept them…

It got him surprised. He thought that they would act like Decepticons. They would take whatever they wanted. He thought he would never see these blades again.

That's…different from Decepticons.

At least, it was a small comfort. But another surprise came when Fracture leaned over to grab his items.

Gadgets.

Not any random gadget. Pads, mini-drones, bombs…

Drift froze when Fracture pulled out one of the bombs.

"Here we go"

He understood.

He ordered Armorhide and Rollbar to step back. He then placed the bomb over the glass.

Then he pressed a button located between the thumb and his foredigit.

"What—"

A small beep followed…The glass suddenly shattered in a loud noise. They were wrapped in a cloud of smoke. A few flames had appeared as well. Fire was standing up between them and the exit out.

Drift stared at Fracture again.

A victorious smirk on his face.

…Just like Lockdown.

Rollbar and Armorhide rushed their way out while flames rose up, going stronger because of the wind coming from outside. Drift jumped aside to dodge a whirl of fire that almost got him burnt.

He sat up. Fracture wasn't scared. He jumped ahead, before vanishing through flames.

Drift bit his lip. Behind, he heard the room's gates opening up.

A dozen of Autobots ran over to him.

He glanced back at the fire.

That was…nothing near what he'd been through…

Jail…Death sentence…or this.

Jetstorm and Slipstream.

Wing.

He took his breath. He put himself in a stance, getting ready.

"Deadlock!"

No…my name is Drift, he thought.

He jumped in fire.