CHAPTER 65

"Was it him?"

Wing turned back. He'd just turned his Pad off, having put it on the desk. Axe was standing up at the doorway, giving him a concerned stare. Wing nodded, drying his optics off. Contacting Drift had given him such hard feelings…happiness, regret, sadness…

…And confessing his love, even though it had been obvious enough during his days at the Circle of Light…it had got him upset evermore. He'd never done such a thing with Gasket…and he'd never dared confess to him, even after his departure…

Axe walked closer, taking a seat in front of him.

"…How is he?"

Wing hesitated about the answer. In the end, he chose to be honest and explained with his own words. Despite stammering, Axe understood quickly. His optics widened, staring at Wing, aghast.

"…He'd got himself in serious troubles" The yellow and purple bot replied.

"I wonder if we shouldn't go to help him" Wing offered.

Axe frowned.

"Wing…From what you told me; Drift is with bounty hunters. Decepticons actually"

"They aren't Decepticons. They are Ronins" Wing quite dryly retorted.

Since Dai Atlas's death, Wing and Axe had been in charge of the Circle of Light. According to hierarchy, after Dai Atlas and Star Saber, Wing should have become the leader. Yet he'd refused and had preferred to co-lead along with his comrades. For many reasons. First because he thought he didn't own the right skills to lead. Furthermore, once his decision had been made, he, Axe and Outrigger had agreed about one point: Dai Atlas had committed mistakes. Even if he'd wished the best to protect Cybertron, rules should have been less strict. Their goal had been protecting the ancient Cybertronian culture as well as Cybertronians themselves but, by rejecting them and exiling them at the single mistake, because of their past, religion, preference, no one was truly protected. They couldn't remain out of the conflict any longer. Sooner or later, Crystal Cities shall step in. Not for one or the other side, but in order to get a lasting peace.

Outrigger's responsibilities had become stronger. Wing and Axe had both allowed him to go outside, under the condition that he always indicated them his coordinates and was accompanied by Beak. Wing wasn't reassured about letting him outside or increasing his charges, but they had to realize it. They'd lost their leader. Everyone had to contribute.

After all, all three of them were the only ones left. Sometimes, Esmeral came to assist them, informing them about Crystal Cities' situation. She would warn them about eventual dangers, like pirates' presence or slave traders. And her speeches in streets had changed as well. Even though she still mentioned Solus and assumed her opinions freely, her speeches were now more orientated about Cybertron conflict. She wanted to make sure that everyone realized horrors that the conflict had led to, and that more would come if everyone remained closed in their houses, not fighting, not caring about whatever happened outside the City.

Axe's tone went calmer though there was still a tension between them.

"Decepticon or Ronin…what's the difference?" He asked. "They share the same ideas…"

"Axe…You're starting to talk like Dai Atlas did" Wing softly warned him.

"What I meant is…It looks like Drift came back to his bad days"

The white bot glared at him. He definitely disliked the way he was talking. Especially coming from Axe…he could have expected them from Dai Atlas but…Axe surprised him. In a negative manner.

"I thought you would be ready to welcome him. I thought you would give him a second chance"

Axe had his arms crossed. He'd noticed Wing's behaviour. The white bot had never been that cold toward anyone, beside Star Saber.

"I'm ready to welcome him. I'm ready to give him a second chance. What I mean, Wing is…that sometimes, you shouldn't act as optimistic and hopeful toward people"

"You know he's one of us now, Axe? Dai Atlas had accepted him in. He's part of the Circle of Light."

"Yes" Axe agreed, using the same tone as Wing's now. "But he left. He left the team"

It left Wing speechless.

Axe softened up. The yellow and purple bot sadly stared at him. Wing couldn't face him.

"I want him back too. But…that's his own choice. You will not be able to change his mind"

He was right…but it hurt Wing.

Especially since Drift hadn't answered to his confession either…

"We'll meet again" Wing stated, his voice going shaky. "I'm sure one day…we'll meet again"

"…Maybe" Axe said, without being convinced.

Yes…it wasn't a farewell.

Axe stood up. He turned around to leave the meeting room. However, his voice rose one last time.

"…I really want you to find happiness, Wing. You deserve it, more than anyone else"

Wing didn't answer. He just covered his face.

Axe left the room and Wing's tears fell down.

"Where are we?"

"I told you, Jetstorm: I don't know"

They'd been walking for four hours now. It had been many days since they'd escaped from that Minicon store. Jetstorm and Slipstream looked around. It was going dark. Night fell down on Sistex and despite some weak lights, they didn't know where they were going to. They had still trouble in reading signs and even though they would be able to understand them, Jetstorm thought it wouldn't be such a great help. They were Minicons, the City was way too vast and big for them…

And they had no hint about Mister Drift's whereabouts…Jetstorm let out a desperate and tired sigh. No way…there was no hope.

And it wasn't the only problem. They had been attacked by Autobots, they had been taken to a Minicon store…maybe there would be others like this? Definitely since they had no idea about the distance between Iacon and Sistex.

If Shadow Raker came back…they would have no protection. Nobody would help them…

As they walked, Jetstorm remembered about his difficult memories, faint yet painful ones. It was bringing him back to millenaries ago, when he'd been wandering around streets, seeking energon, a Master, anything…A goal. He stared back at Slipstream. He bitterly supposed that his partner was feeling the same thing. Although Slipstream had repeated that his centuries in streets hadn't been that horrible since he'd spent most of his time playing with his ball…until a Cyclone had stolen it from him.

That part had slightly got Jetstorm amused though for Slipstream, it wasn't a happy memory. He hoped having that ball again one day. Jetstorm had wondered where he'd got it.

"…We shall find a shelter to recharge" Slipstream advised. "I'm afraid of Acid rains"

"…Maybe you're right. Maybe there is a shelter not very far from here…for us…"

Acid rains…they'd never heard about that phenomenon since they'd remained in Shadow Raker's domain from the beginning of the conflict. They'd never known that danger…But Jetstorm was afraid of facing it…especially since bots whom they'd asked for help to had refused to share their shelter…at least, when these people had still a roof over their head after bombings…

While they came across a street, they suddenly met a bot who was running over to them, coming from the opposite direction. A red and green bot, a panicked look on his face. As soon as he met Jetstorm's optics, he ran faster, growling.

"What—" Slipstream was about to say when suddenly, the bot and he collided, causing him to fall down.

"Slipstream!" Jetstorm cried out, rushing over to him.

"Don't stay in my way, you dirty miniatures!"

What was he running from? Jetstorm helped Slipstream up, the latter still a bit dizzy due to the shock. Both Minicons exchanged a worried look.

A noise drew their attention. From far, many shapes. A group of many bots…Jetstorm counted three of them. Various colours came out from the grey of Cybertron's streets, into the mist.

"What is that?" Slipstream cried out.

"I don't know! But we can't stay here!"

For one moment, they thought it was Autobots…but from far, it was difficult to distinguish their insignias. He thought Autobots would capture them again to sell them back to the Minicon owner. Or another, much worse. They would be back to that nightmare…

The bot kept running. He transformed in his alt-mode to go faster. Unfortunately for him, his pursuers got the same idea and Slipstream pushed Jetstorm against the wall to dodge them, while all three of them transformed in their modes.

A buggy, a tractor…

Neither Jetstorm nor Slipstream could buy it.

None of them reacted immediately as soon as they saw an orange car passing by.

An orange and black car…They didn't think of him. After all, there were so many orange cars like this on Cybertron…So many of them shared this model.

Then, it would have been too beautiful…

No. Jetstorm and Slipstream didn't want to believe it…until the orange car suddenly stopped in front of them.

"Jetstorm…Slipstream…"

And the extremely familiar voice rose.

Time stopped. Slipstream and Jetstorm took time before realizing who was standing up in front of them.

"…Mister Drift!"

Slipstream cried out first. Jetstorm was too shocked to speak.

Drift transformed again. The next moment, Slipstream and Jetstorm rushed over to him, hugging his legs. They didn't believe it anymore. They thought they would never see him again. and according to the orange bot's attitude, the feeling was reciprocal.

"We were so scared!"

"Where have you been?"

Drift didn't hug them back, yet he didn't reject them. He cleared his throat. It apparently got him awkward. Slipstream glanced back at Jetstorm. In the end, they released him.

"It's long to explain…what about you? Where were you?"

"We were—"

"What are you doing?"

Behind them, someone spoke. They turned around. The buggy had stopped as well.

"Forager…"

"You have a debt toward us! We have a bounty to catch! Now!"

The buggy started up again, driving back to the direction the bot they were after had taken. He shouted at Drift again.

"Don't waste our time!"

"Mister Drift…Who are they?" Jetstorm asked.

Drift let out a sigh. Then, without any other explanation, he reached his wrists out. They got the message.

"Mister Drift…"

"I'll explain later. Now…we must just obey"

"But…"

"Do what I told you"

He gave them a nod. Jetstorm and Slipstream didn't understand. But…orders were orders. They shall listen to him.

In the end, they undeployed into their disc form, before reattaching themselves at Drift's wrists, who transformed back into his alt-mode.

Then, they went after the individual again, following the others.