CHAPTER62
As soon as their blades collided, Drift knew it wouldn't be an ordinary fight.
While they exchanged blows, Drift was thinking about all these times he'd fought. First in streets…it had never been an equal fight since victims he'd assaulted were attacked by surprise, usually not able to defend themselves.
He thought about the time he'd confronted Crashthunder…he'd been saved by Shadow Raker…
He thought about his training with Wing…beside his entrance in the Circle of Light, nothing had ever been at stake.
He thought about his fight against Star Saber…he'd been supported by Wing, Axe, Esmeral, Outrigger…
Every time he'd won against formidable opponents, it'd been mostly due to help from others.
But against Fracture…it would be different. That wasn't the same thing.
The purple bot stopped. He didn't try to attack anymore. He expected Drift to attack first.
He wasn't an amateur. He was a warrior. He knew how to defend himself.
"…You'll not get that bounty, Drift"
His tone was aggressive, threatening. Drift remained in a defensive stance. Fracture's red optics never tore off him.
Drift was fully aware of his ruthlessness. It wasn't a false warning. Fracture meant these words. The orange bot tried not to pay attention to Rollbar, lying behind them, even thought he'd come for him. He mustn't focus on anything else but his enemy.
That's what Wing had repeated.
"I didn't come for a bounty" He growled.
Maybe he could gain some time…waiting for Rollbar to regain consciousness and escape…
"So, why?"
Despite anger, Drift guessed a genuine confusion.
He didn't understand…?
But to Drift there was no question. The orange bot didn't lower his guard.
"…Because that's the right thing to do"
"The right to do?" Fracture repeated, stunned.
"How could you? Rollbar didn't cause any harm to you. He helped us to escape!"
Bitterly, Drift thought back of all bots he'd assaulted.
They hadn't done any harm to him either. Drift had attacked them for free, to steal their energon.
Fracture's expression hardened.
"So, what? He helped us to escape. And what else?"
"You have no remorse!" Drift cried out, outraged.
"A bounty is a bounty, Drift"
Rollbar was nothing to his optics…only a prize. It disgusted Drift further.
"I'm sure the other bounty hunters aren't like you" Drift coldly retorted.
"Because you know some of them?"
Rage appeared again.
"Of course, since you are one of us"
Drift lunged at him. Without any word, Fracture got his blades crossed to block his adversary's sword and katana's attacks. A chill went through Drift's spine as soon as he realized how Fracture defended himself with ease. Even if he could feel the purple bot's hostility, the latter was quite calm. It caught Drift off guard. It sounded like an alarm. Immediately afterward, Drift moved back.
He did it right. Because Fracture got ready and counter-attacked. Drift expected a riposte but it was much more violent than he'd expected. Fracture ran over to him with a horrifying speed, his blades up, using all the weight of his body to hit him. Shock surprised Drift further, losing his balance. Fortunately, his sword and katana had lessened the impact. But now he was the one blocking Fracture's attacks.
It went too fast. Fracture didn't give him any chance to attack. No exit, no way out to change his situation. Drift moved back and had a lot of difficulties to counterattack while his opponent moved ahead further. They were far enough from the ship. Fracture used both his blades at the same time. Drift only got the time to use his katana to protect himself from both successive assaults. Fracture growled and forced further, his weapons' pressure trying to break Drift's resistance off, his katana being his only one shield right now.
"You have been trained, right? How cute it is" Fracture sneered. "You fight like these Autobot warriors"
"I'm not like them!"
Drift's wrists trembled. He'd got more difficulties to resist Fracture's assaults. He tried to catch his breath. In a few seconds, he would lose. He must go as far as possible from Fracture. as far as possible…but how…
Drift stared back deeply into Fracture's optics. He shall not be afraid of him. He shall not display his emotions…
He shall take a risk.
In the end, the shield was broken at the right instant where Drift jumped backward to dodge Fracture's blades that almost got his chassis stabbed.
He landed a few meters away, far enough from Fracture. The bot gave him a contemptuous glare.
"Take my advice" He spat. "Give up. You're fighting against a professional"
He paused.
"Bounty hunters…Amateurs like you…I met some others. None of them had been able to resist me"
"I'll not let you—"
I'll not let you take that bot.
I'll stop you, he thought.
"…Are you sure you are a Decepticon?"
Fracture gave him a crooked smirk. Drift remained in guard.
"Because that's something Autobots would do"
"I told you: I'm not like them!"
Adrenaline pushed Drift further to keep on fighting. He jumped again. His sword and his katana above his helm, he went straight ahead for Fracture. The purple bot dodged aside, and that's the ground Drift stabbed instead. He sat up again.
Fracture wasn't done with it yet.
"Decepticons don't give a damn for anyone but themselves. They don't even respect each other. So, why should I care about his life?"
That's true…He was right.
Decepticons didn't have such a way of thinking. Their only goal was surviving. Even if others had to pay the price. Drift also aimed for that goal…
But he had realized that survival didn't justify any means…just like it didn't justify attacking others and steal their energon.
Drift had been selfish. He'd attacked them out of selfishness. For his survival…
Before, he wouldn't have cared.
But now…
Now, he mustn't let his old cellmate take Rollbar as well, away from his family.
A despicable bounty hunter…
"I don't need any reason to help him"
Yes.
Wing would have rescued this bot. A stranger.
It was the honourable thing to do, helping distressed people…
"Too bad for you"
That's Fracture's only answer to this. The purple bot jumped on him again. Blows went again. But this time, Fracture wasn't only using his blades. He used his pedes, his fists…and this part was much more difficult than the first one. Drift tried to get the upper hand, replying the same way…he tried to kick him back but Fracture dodged them even before that Drift could reach out to him. His opponent didn't leave him any time. Despite him, the orange bot moved back again.
He couldn't beat him…but he had to notice his weaknesses…
Fracture was agile. His attacks and movements were quick and fluid. His position was stable…he could anticipate any of Drift's attacks.
This weakness…where was it? What was it?
He couldn't be invincible!
And suddenly, he felt an intense pain in his back. He tried to punch Fracture right in the face but a deafening explosion emanated from his back, making him cry in pain while his audios were bleeding. Pain was too important…Drift dropped his weapons and fell to the ground at Fracture's pedes, who remained unmoving.
Drift didn't understand…What kind of attack had Fracture used?
It couldn't be his blades…or his fists…or his pedes…
Explosion was only caused by bomb…
Pain was so important…Drift thought he was about to faint. Sparks came out from his back…he growled, trying to sit up but he was unable to move. In front of him, Fracture's pedes walked ahead.
"How…" Drift stammered, a low tone.
It wasn't any usual enemy. Fracture looked down upon him, a kind of condescending expression.
"You think gadgets only exist to look pretty?" He asked.
"You…used your bomb…"
Wing hadn't taught him to defend himself against these kind of attacks…
Star Saber had turned back against them…he'd been hard to defeat…yet, he'd just used his blades and members to attack.
He'd fought just like any other Circle of Light member…he'd chosen his own weapons and hadn't used any other that he would have hidden secretly…
Neither Shadow Raker…
Fracture…was able to go that far?
"…You played dirty…" Drift spat energon due to the shock.
"Played dirty? No. I use any necessary means in order to get whatever I want. It includes bombs as well"
No…Drift growled, clenching his fists.
"…How could you do that?"
"Doing what? Admit it, Drift. If you got them, you would have used them against me as well"
"You're wrong!"
Wing had repeated…Martial arts were bound by principles…the respect of the adversary…fair-play…
"…Martial arts don't allow such devious means…"
Fracture shrugged.
"I don't practice martial arts anyway"
But he'd got a training…no one could learn to fight like him in one day…Fracture walked closer.
"I warned you, Drift. I just deal with amateurs like you"
No…
Drift bitterly regretted. He regretted it…he should have minded his own business…
He thought about Jetstorm and Slipstream…If he hadn't interfered, he could have seen them again.
Now…Fracture will make him pay.
Fracture's arm raised up. At the end of it, his blade appeared.
"Fracture…"
"I'm the most feared bounty hunter of the entire galaxy, Drift. You can't be better than me"
Why…
Pain, humiliation…Drift felt all these emotions in a violent and unbearable way…he went shaking in fear, out of rage…
Yes…Why? He'd been too arrogant, thinking he could defeat an adversary while he didn't know anything of him…
"Good night, Drift"
His blade went down.
Drift didn't scream.
A shot replied.
Before Fracture could touch down him, the purple bot jumped aside, above Drift.
Other shots went again, passing above Drift's helm. The orange bot noticed some blue and deadly lights…
Who was coming…?
Wing?
No. He hated laser-guns.
Drift's audios screamed again. Fracture remained close to him. He could observe the purple's bot lips moving.
But he couldn't hear anything…
Anger came back on Fracture's face, before he jumped in the air.
He transformed in his alt-mode. His motorcycle mode.
Before shots ceased, Fracture had already driven away, going for his ship. He was running away. Drift tried to sit up, leaning painfully on his left elbow to observe the scene…
Rollbar…
He must help Rollbar…
He could hear again.
"Bring him here!"
Before Drift could react, a violent blow hit the back of his helm.
Warmth took him over…and everything went black.