CHAPTER 59

After their escape, Drift thought that they'd gone too far. That it had been madness.

Madness because they'd broken out of prison, even in order to find Jetstorm and Slipstream.

Madness because they'd attacked guards.

Madness because they'd jumped into fire.

Madness because he'd followed Fracture.

Yes. When he would remember everything, Drift would probably think how dumb he had been at that time. Maybe way dumber than when he'd decided to follow Shadow Raker to become a thief and a Shadow…

Yet, he was driving. Along with him. With them. They were driving as far as possible from the Iacon prison.

Autoboots had chased after them. A few of them. They'd shot at them, ordering them to come back at this instant. One of them had tried to attack Rollbar by behind. Armorhide had crushed him up because throwing him out on the road.

Drift didn't know where they were going.

Were they driving away from Iacon? Were they leaving the City? Would they take refuge in a safer place? Or were they driving closer to danger? If that wasn't a City ruled over by Autobots, maybe they would be safer in a City ruled over by Decepticons…

Or maybe not.

Or maybe was he driving away from Jetstorm and Slipstream?

He'd taken his blades back. His blades given by the Circle of Light…but that's a small comfort.

He didn't know where he could start searching for Minicons. He was with strangers. Decepticons, okay. But it didn't change anything…

They were dangerous individuals.

Drift drove faster.

Night fell down when they finally stopped. As soon as Drift looked up at the building in front of them, he realized it was a hotel. Located at Sistex. A City with yet ambiguous affiliation.

A hotel…No. That wasn't the right term. Only rich bots, only privileged castes, could enjoy a night in such a place. That's a refuge. An inn. Drift noticed it. Right here, written in metal…Decepticon insignia.

That sigh…for one reason or another…it made him wince.

What for?

Rollbar and Armorhide stepped inside first. Drift remained motionless. Fracture noticed it.

"What are you doing?"

"…I can't stay here"

He couldn't waste any time. The purple bot rolled his optics.

"Come on. Where would you go? We are individuals that they need to hunt down. It must be a mess at Iacon."

He displayed a small smile. Drift didn't share it.

"…I must go. They need me"

"Come on. You can do it tomorrow" The purple bot said. "Look around. It's night. It's dark. Everything is closed. Where could you go?"

Going back to Iacon…

Even if that place was filled with Autobots…he must start here. Fracture stepped closer to him.

"You'll not be good" Fracture insisted. "Come on. Come back inside. For once, you will sleep in a room other than your cell"

That's what he'd thought the day he'd met Shadow Raker…the same speech. But this time, he must admit that Fracture had a point.

After all, where would he go? Where would he start by?

He was hungry. His reserves were low…and his armour was dented, some areas being burnt due to fire. He wasn't the only one. Fracture had also suffered from damages as well.

Finally, he followed him again and joined Rollbar and Armorhide inside. Both of them were standing in front of the reception desk. The femme in charge gave them a pass for their rooms. As they walked away Fracture gave them a bored glare.

"So…We are on your own, now?"

Armorhide growled, threatening. He then walked upstairs, probably heading for his room. Fracture and Drift turned back to the femme.

"Two rooms" Fracture stated.

"…20 Shanix. Unfortunately, we only have one room left"

Fracture and Drift froze. They hadn't been expecting this.

"Well…We were cellmates, after all" Fracture said, a laidback tone.

However, the orange bot guessed he was slightly irritated. He wasn't happy to share his room either. And Drift didn't trust him either. He frowned. He remembered he had no Shanix left. Autobots had taken everything from him, all his possessions. He let out a sigh. Near him, Fracture put his money on the desk, though reluctantly. He was apparently a greedy person.

As soon as they turned around to leave the refuge, a servo put some Shanix on the desk. Drift turned back, surprised.

Rollbar.

"…What are you doing?"

"It's for me. I pay for him" Rollbar said, giving a nod at Drift.

The femme looked slightly surprised. Even Fracture frowned at that attitude. However, she accepted it and handed the pass over at Drift, stating their room's number. Drift blinked. He didn't understand. He turned back to Rollbar while they headed for their respective rooms.

"…Why?"

"For the family you need to find"

And then, Rollbar locked himself in his own room, located at the end of the hall. Drift remained alone with Fracture. The latter sneered.

"A Decepticon with feelings. What a joke"

Of course, as you would do the same thing, Drift bitterly thought. However, he didn't comment anything.

Fracture used the pass and got their room opened. They looked around. Their room was quite simple. Two berths. A wash-rack. A sofa. As soon as Drift laid down on one of berths, he realized how it was much more comfortable than the one he'd got in prison…

It comforted him…even if Fracture was in the same room. Even if Jetstorm and Slipstream weren't present…The purple bot took a seat on his. Then he grabbed something behind. He sat up, holding two cubes of energon.

"Our meal" He declared.

He gave one to Drift. The orange bot quietly accepted it. Then, both of them drank by small sips.

"Well…that mission had been a success" Fracture stated after a time.

"I'll not do that ever again" The orange bot growled.

"If you are captured again…Well, you'll need to. Hey. You avoided your termination."

Drift put his cube down. He coldly stared back at him.

"I'll leave tomorrow. We part ways here, Fracture"

"Sheesh. Really? I thought we understood each other."

Another cunning smirk.

"…We are on our own now" Drift replied, using the exact words that Fracture had used earlier. "I have no reason to follow you any further"

"So, you know what I am…for acting so despising that sudden."

Drift didn't answer. Fracture stood up and walked closer to him. The orange bot growled at him, giving him a warning. However, Fracture still sat down on the berth, facing him.

"So. I'm listening"

Drift slightly moved back.

"…You are a bounty hunter"

Yet, his disdain didn't really come from this…Being a bounty hunter didn't mean anything…That's just a job. Everyone tried to survive on their own ways. But Fracture…he hardly could give him such an excuse.

In a breath, Fracture leaned over.

"What were you?"

His tone was low. Drift remained neutral.

"…Miner"

"And afterward? A thief? Is it any better?"

There was genuine curiosity in Fracture's optics.

"Well…I gain money by getting rid of some scums. You can say I help Cybertron, in one way."

"Cybertron doesn't interest you"

"It still remains my planet, Drift"

He felt a claw under his chin. Drift tried to struggle but Fracture held a tight grip on him. He put his chin up, forcing him to look back.

"…Aren't you liking that profession?"

"…No"

"Good. Less competitors for me to deal with, so."

Suddenly, Fracture released him and stood up. He moved to his berth and grabbed his Pad out. Drift felt more and more annoyed.

"What are you doing?"

"I update my profile. Since I have been locked up all this time…"

It made him think…he needed to send a message to Wing. He stood up as well. He needed to take some fresh air as well.

He must get worried sick for him…Fracture didn't give him any comment and kept navigating on his Pad.

Coming across the hall, Drift wondered if he could contact him here. In that refuge. If they got…some network or something. He caught sight of Rollbar's room which was left opened. The latter stepped out of it.

Drift stopped. As soon as the bot passed him by, he suddenly felt the need to talk to him.

"…Thanks. For the room"

"You're welcome"

Rollbar kept walking ahead. Yet, another question was in Drift's mind.

"…Your family…"

The bot turned back. His face softened up. Drift took a calmer tone. He felt awkward about such a question.

"…Who are they?"

"…My wife and two children"

He twitched at this.

Such a kind of family…Drift didn't have anything like that. But he could understand how Rollbar felt right now.

He needed them. He was searching for them.

"…You'll find them again" Drift promised.

"I hope so"

Rollbar gave him a nod then left the hall to go downstairs back to the canteen.

Drift decided to follow him up. Maybe he could find what he searched for…he knew Fracture owned gadgets…but no way he would ask him for help.

As soon as he questioned the femme at the reception desk, the latter pointed a computer near the entrance. Drift hadn't noticed it since how small it had been.

"…You can send a message with it if you wish."

Drift did it.

Despite the bad quality of the material, it remained a way to contact him. He turned it on and tapped coordinates on it, the ones given by Wing. Ones he'd given to before his departure. Confidential coordinates. Ones that only Wing possessed. He didn't want another to discover the existence of the Circle of Light.

As soon as communication was established, Drift sent a message.

I'm fine. I miss you.

That's true.

When Drift woke up the morning after, he noticed he was alone.

Fracture wasn't in the room anymore.

Drift sighed. Good. He wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. He stretched out. He hadn't slept well. Too many questions in his processor. He was worry, uncertain…

And a nightmare.

Drift left the room, going for the canteen to take his energon.

That's at this moment he realized that Rollbar's room was left opened. Drift recognized it. As well as Armorhide's room.

He passed by Rollbar's first.

Empty.

He was probably at the canteen. Or maybe he had left as well.

He slowly walked for Armorhide's.

And he nearly collapsed, shock and horror striking him as soon as he caught sight of Armorhide's lifeless corpse lying down on the floor.