CHAPTER 71

"Hey…Deadlock"

Drift didn't answer. He already knew what Foxtrot wanted.

As if he was alone, he kept training, striking and blocking, as if he was assaulting an invisible opponent. That's his ritual, like every morning. In one way, it did some good to him. It allowed him to focus his mind on something else in order to forget his situation…in order to forget about all these whispers, these sneers, the attention…

And in another way, it gave him some pride in. He'd got the feeling of becoming better each day, as long as he practiced…as long as he didn't give up…

He thought that maybe, Wing would be proud as well…

"Deadlock. Hey. Are your earshots broken or something?"

Ignore them, Drift thought. Don't play their game.

A sneer from a hyena replied.

"Maybe you should communicate with him in another way?"

He shouldn't answer to them. He shouldn't play their game. It was like nothing he didn't already know, since he had been there during these last months…

Time passed so fast…

Minicons remained undeployed on his wrists. He only deployed them when they were alone together. Or whenever he was in mission and was forced to use them. But otherwise, he made sure that they were never alone with Foxtrot or Autoclave…Like now…

As soon as he was about to finish his kata, something hit his face violently. It caused him a great pain at the middle of the forehelm, shock making him drop his sword. He hold his face, glancing down at what he'd received. An empty cube of energon.

Yet, Drift felt something wet on his forehelm. As soon as he touched it, he discovered it was energon all over his digits. His.

He abruptly turned back to the one who'd thrown it. Anger took over. Immediately, Foxtrot was already standing up. Autoclave remained on his seat, watching the scene and chuckling.

"Seriously? Who taught you to fight like that?" Foxtrot said. "It's absolutely pointless"

On his wrists, he could feel Jetstorm and Slipstream's worry. If Foxtrot had targeted his wrists instead of his forehelm…

Don't answer back, he tried to repeat to himself.

"He probably had a mentor" Autoclave added. "He shouldn't have left him that soon."

"Sheesh. His mentor was probably useless…maybe he shouldn't have taken one at all"

This time, Drift didn't hold back. He violently kicked the cube. The thing flied off then crashed against the wall, just near Foxtrot's face. This time, the fox clenched his fists, letting out a threatening growl.

"You bast—"

"Wanna fight with me? I would really like to see you try. Oh really. I would like." Foxtrot grunted, taking a defensive stance.

Drift was ready. He'll make him pay. But before they could lunge at each other, the door opened. Lyzak stepped in, putting herself between them. Foxtrot's optics narrowed while Autoclave drank the rest of his cube, seemingly disappointed.

"…Foxtrot. That's enough"

"What? Will you defend him now?"

"I can't take it anymore"

Lyzak's tone sounded tired, exhausted. However, it didn't seem to satisfy her husband. The fox's earshots were pinned against his helm, ready to lunge again. Lyzak bared her dentas as well, giving him a cold stare.

"…You interfaced with him, right?" Foxtrot growled.

"You make me sick, Foxtrot"

"Am I the one making you sick?"

Tension had moved up a notch.

"SILENCE!" Forager shouted, stepping in.

Foxtrot glared back at him. For one moment, Drift wondered if he would listen to him. His behaviour was more than uncertain. But Forager's blade onto his back gave him a warning, almost allowing Drift to catch sight of his reflection in.

In the end, Foxtrot moved back and left a room, a heavy step. He roughly shoved Stilts aside, the one standing up in his way. Drift let out a sigh but the pain didn't go away.

"Here"

Drift looked up. Lyzak offered him a handkerchief, to press it on the wound. Drift received it.

"Thanks"

It happened every day. During these months, he'd learned to live with his new comrades. Life wasn't as strict as in the Circle of Light. Drift hadn't needed to prove himself. He hadn't needed to work hard. If he trained up, that's for himself above everything else. They left for hunting other bots. They'd made sure that they didn't suffer. They treated them right. Then, they would have a chance to explain their actions to the one who'd wanted their head…for all the crimes they were accused of…

That's what Drift wanted to believe. But at least, they were safe from Fracture. Yet they hadn't met the purple bot since the last time.

Yet…he didn't get the comradeship feeling that he'd developed with the other Circle of Light members. Forager didn't share any moment with his colleagues outside hunting. Most of time, he remained in his office. Stilts was correct most of time. However, he barely spoke. In one way, it's better. The one Drift got along the most with had been Lyzak. But she also remained distant and aloof. Her health sometimes caused her to leave and stay in her room. Drift wondered what her problems actually were. It seemed serious.

But the worst ones were definitely Foxtrot and Autoclave, even if the latter was more a follower who agreed with everything the fox did. The first day, Foxtrot had promised he wasn't done with him. He'd given his word. Since the day Drift had become part of the team, the Ronin fox hadn't left him alone. It had started with critics. Comments about his fighting style, his appearance, his past as a Decepticon…Drift knew them. He'd spent his life enduring them in streets.

Then it'd gone too far…by nails in his futon, cubes thrown in his face, kicks in Minicons…That's the reason why Drift always kept them close. After Shadow Raker, the Minicon store…they didn't need to suffer more.

Sometimes, if he didn't have any other choice or if Foxtrot crossed the line, they fought. Most of time, Forager was the one who intervened to stop them from killing each other. But Drift didn't come out of them unwounded. At the thought, he pressed the handkerchief more against the wound.

The racoon turned back to him, a stern look on his face.

"I'm tired of your childishness."

"I didn't ask for it" Drift replied.

"It's your fault. You are the one provoking him."

Drift clenched his fists. So, that's it? He deserved it because he 'provoked' him?

"It doesn't matter" Forager cut him in, ending the discussion. "A new bounty had been added on the network"

"What is it?" Lyzak asked.

Forager pulled a Pad out. He clicked on the screen to make a red femme's face appear. Drift noticed the colour of her optics. An Autobot.

"Decepticons want her. She is wanted for terrorism. The price is quite…adequate"

"How much?" Stilts asked.

"Hmm…40, 000 Shanix"

It left them speechless.

"It's more than adequate!" Autoclave cried out.

Forager turned back to him.

"You'll be happy. You're the one who'll go."

"Really?" The hyena answered.

"Yes. You and Deadlock…you'll work together"

Autoclave's smirk vanished. Drift couldn't suppress a chill. Yet, he'd already worked with Autoclave…but in groups, along with Forager or Stilts. That's the first time they'll work together in duet.

Mission…no. That's a hunt.

Drift didn't want it. And the feeling was shared. Even if Autoclave often hid behind Foxtrot, he remained a fierce warrior according to experiences. As soon as they'll be alone…

"…Where is the bounty?" Autoclave asked.

"Japan. On Earth. You'll take the ship" Forager said.

Drift chose to do the same. Not displaying his emotions. After all, he was the newbie. The most recent recruit…It would only make Forager angry.

"Good" The orange bot accepted.

"By the way, Deadlock"

Forager paused.

"Maybe it's time for you to take a nickname, don't you think?"

"A nickname?"

"Yes. I don't think you're aware but…Ronins always carry a nickname. In order to be remembered."

Drift frowned. It was a new thing. He hadn't heard about it before.

"What kind of nickname?"

"I'm the Brain" Forager introduced himself.

One after another, he listed each of the Ronins' nicknames.

Lyzak was the Red Night.

Stilts was the Silent Blade.

Autoclave was the Dark Grin.

Foxtrot was the Trigger-Happy Terror.

These nicknames…it fit them. It fit their reputation. Even if for some…he barely understood.

"I think for you, the one barely displaying his emotions…The Icy Samurai would fit you well"

Deadlock, the Icy Samurai.

Drift didn't comment anything…even if he admitted that the choice was adequate.

"Good luck" Lyzak wished him.

He bowed then left the room in order to get ready.

As soon as he was in his room, he deployed Jetstorm and Slipstream.

"Mister Deadlock…"

"You can't stay like that" Slipstream completed.

Drift didn't answer.

He knew one day, he wouldn't escape from Foxtrot. These attacks couldn't keep on…

He'd chosen to remain here…but it was for the good of everyone.

He couldn't let Fracture win.

Yet…

"…I don't identify myself as the one named Deadlock any longer"

"Because you are Mister Drift" Jetstorm immediately answered.

"You've changed"

Yes.

Yet, he'd to become Deadlock. No. He'd to remain as Deadlock.

The way from Cybertron to Earth lasted a few days. The Ronin ship was quite fast. Much more than Shadow Raker's…A red and orange ship…just like the colours of the faction.

Drift and Autoclave tried not to meet each other. They didn't want to talk. Yet they had to. They must cooperate in order to get a better chance to capture the bounty. Especially since it was quite a big amount of money…In Autoclave's optics, Drift got it. The hyena didn't want to share it. He wanted to keep it for himself.

Like Foxtrot. Like Stilts. Like Forager.

Just like Drift wanted to keep it for himself.

The third day, Earth appeared in front of them. Autoclave sat near him, as the co-pilot. After a silence, the hyena spoke up.

"The bounty hadn't moved"

Drift let out a sigh.

"So…where is she?"

"…Near a place named the Mount Fuji"

"Really?"

Autoclave smirked. It wasn't a mocking smile, this time. More a smile in awe.

"I love this place"

"If you say so"

"Did you already visit Earth?"

Why did he need to know that?

Drift shook his head.

"It's beautiful. Well…Earth is definitely less advanced than us but…there are still good things to see. Like the Mount Fuji"

Will he do that? Playing friendship?

While he encouraged Foxtrot to bully him every day?

Drift took a breath to calm down.

"I don't want to talk to you"

"What? Do you resent me?"

Autoclave remained thoughtful.

"Is it because of what we're doing to you, Foxy and I? But that's just some harmless jokes! Don't take it personally"

The whole sentence almost made Drift burst out. Jokes?

"Jokes?" The samurai cried out. "You think it's funny?"

"Well…it's our own humour"

"Hitting me is funny? Throwing Minicons to the ground and kicking them is funny? Putting some nails in my futon is funny?"

"Well…there is worse"

"Are you finding excuses?"

At least, Shadow Raker and Star Saber hadn't lowered themselves to such a level. They had been much subtler than that.

More dangerous…but it still hurt.

"Well…okay"

"What?"

"Listen. If you are so humourless, we'll stop, Foxy and I."

Drift coldly glared at him.

"Why should I believe you?"

"It's not a bad person. Well deep down he's so funny but…as I am. If it bothers you, we'll stop"

"I hardly believe you"

"Believe whatever you want"

Autoclave glanced back at the screen. Suddenly, he frowned.

"Oh no"

"What?"

"We have some company"

Drift leaned over to check what's going on the screen.

Nearby Earth, there had been another ship…For one instant, Drift thought they didn't need to be worried. It wasn't rare to meet ships…it could be anything. Merchants, visitors, bots running away from Cybertron…

Until he recognized the ship.

A purple ship. Drift understood.

"We'll have to make it fast" Autoclave declared before grabbing commands.

The ship went full-speed to enter in the atmosphere. More they drove closer to Earth, more the purple ship went bigger. They would make it at the same time…but they mustn't let him come at the femme first.

"Hold on. We'll land soon enough"

If they could escape from him…

Drift grabbed his seat, taking many breathes in order to calm down.