CHAPTER 72

"Come on, quickly!"

The ship had already landed and opened its gates, and both Drift and Autoclave were already outside, weapons at servos. Still a bit dizzy due to the rough landing, Drift tried not to focus about what was surrounding him, focusing instead on what's going on in front of him. All he knew was that they were already climbing a mountain. His grip tightened on his blades, keeping the goal in mind. Jetstorm and Slipstream were attached to his wrists as usual. He would deploy them only if it was necessary.

Around them, Earth. Truth to be told, even though Drift had already visited many places on Cybertron…Nothing looked similar to the current place. Around them, greenery. Some grey. Some blue. Scenery filled with mountains, not that different from Cybertron's ones that he'd witnessed at Shadow Raker's place whenever his mentor had been missing or whenever he'd wanted a moment of peace. More they climbed, more the sight went clear. From far, a blue, pure lake…So clear. Drift had never observed such a thing. Drift was tempted to stop and observe but he couldn't due to the lack of time. Autoclave growled out of impatience. They could miss the bounty.

Drift almost wanted to ask if such a planet was inhabited. If so, how did inhabitants look like? Were they as tall as Cybertronians? Autoclave had stated they weren't really advanced. How?

Unfortunately, they didn't meet any form of life on their way. Unless they were hidden…?

In front of him, Autoclave grabbed the Pad that tracked the bounty in question. More they ran closer, more the device let out some high 'beep'. Drift and Autoclave exchanged a look. They got what it meant. They ran faster.

The target was close now.

Right now, nothing else mattered. Not even because he was forced to work along with Autoclave…no. Nothing else mattered.

Beside this curious scenery…Mount Fuji…

What a fascinating name…

Drift let out a sigh. He followed the hyena to the summit. Their way went narrower, the slope becoming more dangerous and more difficult to climb. However, it would be even worse with his alt-mode. He should remain in his robot-mode.

Around them, the signal kept beeping.

They were almost at it…

And indeed, once they reached the end, a red dot appeared from far, right in front of them. The femme…the bounty…

They shared the same thought…the bounty was theirs.

But relief was short. Drift looked closer. More they came closer, more wariness overwhelmed them. The femme was there…but she was laying down on the floor, unmoving, optics shut…

…At pedes of a purple bot they knew too well. The one who'd hunted the same bounty. Fracture was standing up in front of them, a Taser at servo.

Silence fell down. Drift and Autoclave stopped. Fracture greeted them with a mocking smirk, not moving.

"First come, first served" The purple bot declared. "Too bad for you. You have been too slow."

Fracture pulled his Taser back, not tearing his optics off his competitors. Drift remained a bit apart but Autoclave was already ready for the worst yet most probable scenario. Yet he didn't attack right away. He retorted, an angry tone.

"That bounty doesn't belong to you!"

"Really? Is there your name on it?"

Drift frowned.

They talked about the femme as if it was like an item, a property. Even if she had been a criminal, she didn't deserve to be treated such a way.

Autoclave stepped forward.

"Who do you think you are?"

"I'm a bounty hunter" Fracture growled back. Irritation appeared on his face. "You can take the next"

"It won't be the next. We'll take that one"

Autoclave grabbed his weapons out. A sword and a katana, extremely similar to Drift's. Yet before their departure, Drift had noticed that Autoclave had brought extra tools. Would he keep them for later?

Fracture didn't seem impressed.

"You know you have no chance, alone against us Ronins together?" The hyena sneered.

"Yes…but there are just two of you. There are five Ronins…six, now"

He put his optics on Drift. The orange bot looked away.

Now he felt some anger coming out from Fracture.

"You're a good liar, Drift" The purple bot nodded. "Not as good as I am but…not that bad for your kind"

"…I don't see what you're talking about"

"You dare criticize me about my profession while you just decided to help Ronins to do the same thing…isn't it hypocrite from you?"

His tone sounded like venom. Drift wasn't impressed.

"…We don't kill bounties. We don't torture them"

"That's what you believe"

"Even against both of us…You'll have some trouble" Autoclave chuckled.

Fracture simply gave him a nod, understanding.

Then he violently kicked the femme's body aside. The latter let out a whimper of pain, falling down a few meters away. Drift's optics widened and almost went to her, checking if she was alright. Apparently, she stood in Fracture's way.

A few moments after, two blades came out of Fracture's wrists.

Combat couldn't be avoided. Drift was on his guards. Memories about his last fight against Fracture came back in his mind…He had no chance. But he hadn't stopped training during these last months…

Would it be enough?

He glanced back at Autoclave.

"Autoclave…let me deal with him"

"Are you kidding?" The hyena cried out. "It had been such a long time since I waited for this moment"

Yes but…

Something held him back.

"…We are two against one"

"And?"

"It's not honourable" Drift completed.

The hyena laughed hard at the statement. A mad laugh.

And his laugh had been followed by another. Fracture laughed as well.

"I must admit it's a good joke. What's the honour's role in it?"

"We don't care if it's not honourable." The hyena grunted. "As long as we get the bounty…"

"And do you truly believe I'm alone?"

Then, in an unexpecting manner, Fracture's arms were stretched out, as high as he could, almost like if he could touch the sky.

He clenched his fists and a few seconds afterward, two missiles came out from his shoulders, flying in their direction.

Drift had noticed these torpedoes. Something had been added in Fracture's armour.

But these torpedoes…they weren't just some missiles.

He couldn't think clearly. One of missiles headed for him while the other went full-speed in Autoclave's direction. Autoclave's arm had been hit. Drift could just block with his single sword, then attacking back with a powerful blow to send it off him.

Both missiles laughed.

Both torpedoes joined each other before they transformed. Drift froze. From far, he could notice Fracture taking delight in his surprise.

Purple Minicons…very similar to Fracture's appearance. Drift remained speechless at that.

Impossible…Fracture had despised the idea of working with Minicons.

"Yeah, Drift. People can change their mind" The purple bot approved.

Without any order, both torpedoes lunged at the closest one to them. Autoclave. The hyena growled and tried to block the Egg-head torpedo's attack. He managed to shove him aside but the other one fell over him, throwing him to the ground. The other joined him back and together, they started hitting, punching and clawing the hyena's face and chassis.

Drift turned back to Fracture. The latter granted him a smirk, even if he could guess rage behind that grin. Slowly, Fracture stepped back to the femme.

He actually planned to leave with her.

Drift took an offensive stance. He'll not let him leave without doing anything.

Before Fracture could actually get closer, a sword flied at him. Immediately, Fracture jumped aside to dodge it. The sword planted into the ground, at the exact place where he'd been standing up earlier.

He'll not let him go with this femme.

And that wasn't because he was interested in the money. No. That's about something else…

But hearing Autoclave screaming, struggling, he understood. Priority was double.

Without thinking, he deployed Jetstorm and Slipstream.

Both of them transformed, landing on the ground.

"Go to help him!" Drift ordered them.

They nodded. Then without any argument, they threw themselves at both torpedoes. Slipstream aimed at the one with long claws, wrapping his arms around his waist to pin him to the ground while Jetstorm charged at the other, kicking him away from Autoclave. Autoclave sat up, shocked. Drift was focused on Fracture, not paying attention to his colleague.

The purple bot simply shrugged. His smirk had vanished.

Then they lunged at each other.

Their blades collided, just like the first time…At first, Drift managed to fight back. He hit, trying to target his opponent's most sensitive areas, trying not to leave him any opening…

Get up.

Fracture stepped back, Drift moved ahead…

That's not like the first time…

Drift kept on. He fought harder. Nearby, Jetstorm and the torpedo rolled to the ground, while Slipstream pinned the other against a tree to immobilize him, before he's hit in the head by his opponent.

Drift focused back on Fracture. He didn't give up. The orange bot hit, blocked, dodged…

He could do it.

He could beat him.

But after a few minutes, Drift realized that Fracture hadn't been wrong, saying he was a good liar.

He soon realized that he'd been perfectly in control of the fight. He knew what he'd been doing.

He played with him.

Drift moved back. Then afterward, movements and attacks went sharper, more erratic…Drift soon found himself in difficulties to block. Fracture was getting the upper hand…The purple bot's smirk went slowly bigger.

Drift stared at him back with horror. Before Drift could give him another blow, the samurai's katana flied away, leaving him disarmed.

Fortunately, he still had his sword…however, before he could do another action, he found himself pinned against a tree, almost tearing his back apart. Fracture stared back at him, one of his servos around Drift's neck, the other back, ready to stab him through with his blade.

"I warned you. You shouldn't have played with me" The purple bot whispered.

Yet, Fracture didn't finish him off.

He glanced back at his side. His optics narrowed.

What was he—

"Sounds like your partner will not help you, Drift"

"Release me!"

Drift struggled. Despite himself, he followed his enemy's stare.

Autoclave. Heading for the bounty to carry her over his shoulder.

Drift felt an icy sensation through his body.

What was he going to do? Will he abandon him?

Drift went still. That's a nightmare. Jetstorm and Slipstream were too busy with Fracture's Minicons.

He would abandon him…he should have expected it.

He hated him. Of course, he'll not help him.

Fracture's blade went up, ready to strike the orange bot.

Yet the blow never came.

Fracture let out a strangled scream. Drift didn't understand. He looked up back at his opponent.

A metallic rope was wrapped around his neck.

Fracture dropped Drift and was pinned on the ground, falling backward.

Drift gazed back at the rope. Autoclave was the one holding it.

The latter got a thrilled grin. Fracture struggled hard, his servo around the rope that tightened around his neck. He let out suffocated screams. He wasn't able to talk. Drift took his katana back, his optics narrowing at the scene.

"You shouldn't have underestimated Ronins, you scraplet" Autoclave mocked.

With a sharp move, he pulled at the rope, drawing Fracture close to him. Fracture gasped, his breath going jerky.

Nearby, the battle between Minicons had ceased. But for a particular reason. Fracture's Minicons didn't attack Drift's any longer.

Speechless, a shocked expression on their faces, they stared back at the scene.

Drift should have felt relieved.

The number had won. Fracture couldn't have won against them…Autoclave had taken the bounty back. He'd come back to help him.

Yet…

"What did you say, Fracture? Are you mute now?" The hyena sneered.

He pulled at the rope again. Fracture suddenly went still, his mouth opened. His breath went faster. The purple bot's body went shaky.

"He became mute" The hyena smirked. "What if we enjoyed it? Now…He's under our mercy, right?"

What will he-?

Autoclave leaned down to pick up something. Fracture's Taser.

Unexpectedly, Autoclave sent him an electric wave. Fracture's optics widened. A horrified and pained expression came over the purple bot's face. Now his body convulsed, going faster and faster.

Autoclave laughed.

And sent him another wave.

Fracture wasn't screaming…But if he could…

"So, Fracture? Don't you like it?"

Autoclave pulled at the rope again.

"What are you doing?" Drift cried out.

Why was Autoclave doing it?

Ronins didn't torture…

But Fracture was their enemy…

"I'm just telling him his career is over"

A new wave. Fracture struggled more violently under pain that was going stronger. Drift could feel it.

The orange bot focused back on Fracture.

He was suffocating…

A new pull at the rope. A new wave.

"Stop it!" One of torpedoes cried.

Autoclave didn't stop. Quite the contrary. He kept on, more violently.

Drift's fists trembled. Fracture was their opponent. He'd been about to kill him…if he'd joined Ronins, it had been in order to protect bots from him…

But…Autoclave torturing him? Who was he to make someone suffer that much, even to an enemy?

Yes, Fracture was their enemy…but even he didn't deserve such a treatment. It was going too far.

"Primus! Stop it, please!" The other torpedo shouted.

"Don't hurt him!"

"You'll kill him!"

It wasn't honourable…

Wing wouldn't have approved such a thing…

Autoclave granted him a sadistic smirk. Drift realized the extent of his cruelty. He wasn't just a follower.

"It's the goal"

"Please!" One of Minicons screamed.

"I beg you!"

"Autoclave…" Drift said. "Stop it"

Fracture was suffering…

He wouldn't make it if Autoclave kept on…

Autoclave glared back at him.

And sent another wave.

"Autoclave, enough!"

"What? Are you defending him now? Are you pitying him?"

Maybe yes.

Autoclave kept on with a hard kick. And another. Fracture didn't struggle anymore. A drop of energon came out from his mouth.

Fracture had prevented him from killing himself.

For selfish motives, yes. But still…He'd still saved him.

"Stop it!"

He couldn't let him do that…

Drift hit Autoclave with his shoulder. Autoclave immediately dropped the rope. Nearby, Fracture sat up and put his servos at his neck again, catching his breath strongly, taking long inhalations, a shocked expression on his face.

The first time he'd caught sight of such an expression from the purple bot…

Autoclave growled. He stood up in front of Drift, fists clenched, ready to attack.

"What are you doing, Deadlock? You dare stop me from killing him?"

"I can't let you do this!" Drift retorted.

"It's just a scrap! A scum! I'll get rid of another competitor! That's what you wanted!"

Yes…

But not anymore.

"That world would be better off without this trash!"

"Is that you want? Acting cruel? That's pure sadism, Autoclave! It's more than a simple competition!"

"Shut up!"

Autoclave walked closer to him.

"Sheesh…You don't even have an animal alt-mode. You're an inferior being to us"

"Autoclave…"

"You know what? As soon as we'll be back, I'll tell Foxtrot everything. He'll not be happy to know you tried to spare that scum…"

Foxtrot wasn't his business…

"Who knows? Maybe next time, it'll not be in your futon he'll put some nails in…but in your tools' bodies…"

He paused.

"And I'll happily assist him"

No…

And suddenly, before he could finish his sentence, Autoclave's body was cut in two halves.