CHAPTER69

Drift's room didn't have any window. Yet Forager hadn't lied. Late in the night, Acid Rains had vehemently been falling. The room wasn't soundproofed. Inside they could hear everything happening from outside.

On the futon, Jetstorm and Slipstream cowered under blankets. Yet they didn't manage to recharge. Drift neither. At normal times, they should be outside, struggling to survive, trying anything in order not to be touched by acid. Maybe they wouldn't have survived till the morning. But fate had said otherwise…

He was thinking back about his talk with Forager. At each of any member introduced to him. He thought back about the mad light into Foxtrot's optics…

"Mister Drift?"

Slipstream was calling him. Drift turned back to him. Minicons sat up from their futon. They stared at him with curiosity.

"…We'll not stay here, right?"

He couldn't give them any answer. He didn't have any.

"…I don't know"

"I don't feel it good" Jetstorm replied. "These people…I don't trust them"

It was understandable. But Drift didn't know how he should feel about them.

On one servo, Forager had explained that they protected bounties from Fracture. Indeed, if they were caught by the purple bounty hunter, they wouldn't survive.

In this way, they allowed them to survive. They could survive long enough to get a second chance.

Exactly like Wing had done for him…by the way, if he learned about it, how would he react? Would he be proud of him?

Then Jetstorm said these words.

"These people…they are so similar to Shadow Raker. They get the same…greed in their optics"

Shadow Raker…

No. It was different. Shadow Raker stole. It wasn't the same thing with Ronins. They were paid for that job.

Jetstorm was still suffering from Shadow Raker's treatment, just like Slipstream…

His mentor's face appeared at the ceiling. He looked away. He wouldn't come to find them here.

Autobots wouldn't come to find them.

No one would get them.

Drift let out a sigh. What should he decide? In the end, he stood up and walked for Jetstorm and Slipstream. He lied down by their side, Minicons cowering closer to him.

"I really wish things were simpler, sometimes" Drift said.

This wish…stopping to move around. Just…staying at one place permanently. A place they would never leave.

Outside, rains went stronger.

Maybe it was the price to pay…The price for survival…

You have been useful to us

Drift slowly shut his optics. Maybe the night would be good to him…After a few minutes, he fell into recharge.

Night was agitated. Drift was still dreaming…

As usual, the dream was far from being pleasant. Yet…

Something went out from it.

Drift was in Fracture's ship. The same surrounding as during their last meeting. The purple bot was standing at the gates, ready to go.

"…I didn't expect us to meet again that soon" Fracture said, a small smile.

At his pedes, a bot knocked out…Dead?

Rollbar?

Was he reviving the memory of their last meeting? Their fight?

Drift froze. Immediately, he walked closer. He was ready to pull out his swords from behind his back.

Oddly enough, Fracture let him come. He didn't act as possessive, as wary as the last time. Quite the contrary. His sinister smirk appeared on his face while Drift headed for the captured bot.

As he leaned closer, it struck him. He realized it wasn't Rollbar.

No…not the same armour. It was another one…His spark went faster. Immediately afterward, Drift grabbed the bot by shoulder to turn him around.

As soon as he caught sight of him, he jumped and suddenly moved back. No…It wasn't…

In front of him, Wing sternly stared back at him. The expression that terrified him the most…

"I didn't need any reason to save you"

Disappointment…he was disappointed with him.

"But you…you should have saved me"

As soon as Drift awoke, he was greeted by a strong smell. He didn't need to guess it was the smell of energon. Lying down on his stomach, his optics opened. He turned around, checking for the source of it.

He found it right away. Lyzak was kneeling down in front of him. Some cubes of energon were put on a small and grey plate. Nearby, Jetstorm and Slipstream had already grabbed theirs, hastily drinking them. The orange bot's spark ached. They had probably been without any energon during a few days. In the end, he took his, mimicking them. Lyzak observed them, without any emotion on her face.

"…Thanks" Drift told her, grateful.

She gave him a nod. She looked up back to him. After a few minutes of silence, she spoke up again.

"…I'm sorry"

He stopped drinking, staring back at her.

Was she…sorry?

"…About Foxtrot?" Drift questioned her.

It was so strange…He'd witnessed Foxtrot's angry outburst. Yet Lyzak had nothing to do with him. She sounded so calm, so reserved.

Drift couldn't help but wonder what she could see in him. Why were they bonded?

She didn't specify. Lyzak added nothing else. She just took the empty cubes off as soon as Jetstorm and Slipstream finished theirs. She was about to leave the room but Drift called her back, asking her the question he'd in mind since his arrival here.

"…Have you joined Ronins to follow him?"

The fox froze, stopping. She then let out a sigh, before answering with a dull tone.

"No"

"What for?"

"I didn't want to starve to death"

She paused.

"…The only thing that matters is survival. Foxtrot was just an extra happiness"

She'd managed to find happiness…despite war?

Drift bit his lip. His dream hadn't vanished out from his processor. He'd managed to find it as well…during one time.

Wing.

Yet…could this dream likely happen?

He shook his head. No way. Wing knew how to defend himself…Fracture didn't know about his existence. No bounty hunter would ever find him…

But…he couldn't ease his doubts. After all, Fracture had killed Armorhide. He'd taken Rollbar before Ronins appeared.

Bots were just prices to his optics…he felt free to kill them.

Drift couldn't suppress a chill. No…If one day, there was a price on Wing's head…if Fracture managed to go to the Circle of Light to take Wing…or Axe…or Outrigger…

Wouldn't you wish to save these people from Fracture?

Drift's grip tightened on his cube.

If it ever happened…

But Fracture was strong. So strong…much stronger than he was. When they'd fought the first time, Fracture had put him down and would have killed him…despite his training, Drift couldn't get the upper hand.

He glanced back at Lyzak.

Ronins looked like formidable warriors.

They also despised Fracture…

Even if Foxtrot was dangerous…he wasn't the biggest threat. Without any help, he wouldn't be able to protect his loved ones.

He stared back at his cube.

Wing, Axe, Outrigger…All these people had helped him.

As long as there will be people like Fracture…no one will be safe.

"Lyzak?"

"Yes?"

"…Thanks"

The fox's ears twitched. For a brief instant, she stared back at him, shock obvious on her face.

It immediately vanished. She gave him another nod.

"…Acid Rains will keep on till tomorrow. Before I forget…"

She threw something at his pedes. Drift glanced down.

A bag full of Shanix…

He stared back at Lyzak, completely astonished.

What for…?

"For your help" She stated.

Then she left the room.

Drift didn't tear his optics off the bag. The first time he'd ever get Shanix had been from Shadow Raker…

He reached out to them.

"Mister Drift…"

"No"

He cut Slipstream in, shaking his head.

"…No. My name is no longer Drift"

He took a breath.

"…My name is Deadlock"

Yes.

The only thing that mattered had been survival…but not anymore.

Survival of people who'd been there for him was as important.

Jetstorm and Slipstream wouldn't get close to Foxtrot. But he wouldn't stop because of an obstacle.

As long as Fracture will be free…he wouldn't be in peace.

If he shall ally himself with Ronins…so be it.

And until he'll reach his goal…He would be Deadlock.