CHAPTER 81
"…What is it about?"
Drift stared down at his cube, a bit surprised. That wasn't normal energon. This one tasted much stronger…he thought first that the energon was awful but Astro 4788 stopped him before he threw it off.
"Aha, don't worry. That's not bad. That's even pretty good."
"You haven't answered to my question" Drift replied back.
"That's high-grade. High-grade energon."
"Oh"
Drift frowned. He thought that high-grade didn't exist anymore. At least, no more on Cybertron. It surprised him to find some on the Moon of Athena. Drift had never tasted it during his entire life. However, he'd heard about its description. In streets, he'd come across some bots who'd still possessed some. They talked about a very particular taste that could send anyone to the cloud nine.
"…I see"
He gave a stern stare at Jetstorm and Slipstream, quietly ordering them not to drink it. Astro 4788 started laughing.
"Don't worry. I told you. It's not poisoned"
"Why offering some to me?"
"What a question!"
He paused.
"That's the least thing I can do…for someone who'd just saved my life."
Drift shook his head.
Yes…He'd saved his life but he didn't deserve it.
"Remember that I'm a bounty hunter"
"You've been one"
"I still am. And I'm a Decepticon"
Astro 4788 stopped drinking. He stared back at Drift, an unreadable expression on his face. The orange bot let out a sigh. He'd been a fool to trust him. Drift had hidden the truth from him. The clone didn't know him.
Then Astro 4788 added, without any wariness in his tone.
"So, it means you'll take the bounty put on my head, right?"
This idea could have crossed Drift's mind, indeed.
But even if he gained 100,000 Shanix by delivering him to Decepticons…
"…I'll get no pleasure from it" Drift stated.
"What for? I thought you wanted some money. That's the reason why you joined Ronins"
Yes. But after what'd happened with them…then with Fracture…Drift wouldn't be better than them.
And…he knew what it would imply.
"You'll soon replace the founder of this Moon. You'll rule over this star. People are trusting you"
"And?"
Will he actually force him to say it?
"So…I don't want to condemn all these inhabitants"
"Even for your faction?"
Drift sighed, looking down.
"…I'm not feeling like a Decepticon any longer. Not anymore."
"That's a good thing"
"I don't know if that's a good thing. But all Decepticons I've met, or people who were affiliated to them…either betrayed or disappointed me. I don't want to do it again"
"I understand"
Yet…did it mean he shall become an Autobot? Or shall he remain neutral?
But neutrals didn't have much chance of survival here…in that world filled with war and flames.
But…he'd become a Decepticon and he hadn't been protected.
And it wouldn't protect Jetstorm or Slipstream.
"Well, even if you'd chosen to remain as such" Astro 4788 stated. "I wouldn't have bought it. I mean…you don't incarnate Decepticon values…if we can call it 'values'."
"You believe I would fit more with Autobots?"
"Only an Autobot would have accepted to help me" The clone smiled. "That's the very reason why we support them. You endangered yourself…for my sake. You saved the Moon of Athena and then…"
He took a time.
"…Why did you spare your enemy? Why did you help him?"
Drift winced at this question.
"Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do. He'll come back, you know. Along with other bounty hunters. And if it isn't him, that could be someone else."
"In any case, I'm ready" Astro 4788 said. "No one had ever managed to destroy us. And if we are in danger, if we need any help…Autobots will protect us"
This meaningful smile was probably for him.
"You haven't answered my question" The clone repeated. "Why did you spare him?"
Drift's grip on the cube went tighter.
However, he displayed no hostility.
He was just…thoughtful.
"…I don't know. Maybe I didn't want to witness anyone else die."
"If you say so"
Atsro 4788 took a sip of his cube.
"And you still believe you are not a hero"
"I'm not. A good action doesn't erase a bad one"
"But it's possible to change, to change our bad ways and turning them into good ones"
"I don't know if it's possible" Drift replied, a dark tone.
"You are the good illustration of it"
The clone smiled.
"You're better than you think you are, Drift. Maybe one day, you'll incite people to follow your path"
Despite him, such a declaration warmed his spark up.
Change…
He'd got the feeling to meet Wing again.
But Wing wasn't there.
Drift stood up. He gestured at Jetstorm and Slipstream. It was time to go. If Astro 4788 didn't need him any longer…
"Goodbye!" Both Minicons said.
"Goodbye"
Drift hesitated. In the end, he added.
"…Thanks"
"No, Drift. Thanks you"
The samurai shyly nodded then left the bunker. Astro 4788 had given him a ship as a reparation. Jetstorm and Slipstream were already excited, and couldn't wait to see how it looked like.
"Astro 4478 said we'll have our own room?" Jetstorm and Slipstream asked.
Drift nodded.
"If he said so…It shall be true"
"Our first room!" Slipstream cried out, happy.
From far, the sun was rising.
"Sir, maybe you shouldn't—"
"I said I'll not take them!" Fracture growled.
"But if you could just—"
"I said I'll not! Take your scrapping medication back! I don't need it!"
The nurse jumped at that. In the end, she turned around, scandalized. Fracture almost punched the wall out of anger. Why did he meet incompetent fools at EVERY single time? And she was supposed to be a nurse…
Nearby, Minicons stepped back. They'd guessed perfectly well that they shouldn't be around Fracture whenever the latter was enraged. Fracture would be able to use them as punching-bags.
"That self-righteous scraplet!" Fracture cried out.
"Boss…everything will be okay" Divebomb replied, a calm tone.
"WHAT? WE LOST THE BOUNTY BECAUSE OF HIM! HE STOLE IT!"
A thief…Once a thief, always a thief.
"There are other bounties, boss" Airazor added.
"But that one was at 100,000 Shanix! 100,000 Shanix lost! Do you realize it? We'll have no other chance!"
It disgusted him! He hunted that clone for days…in the end, for nothing!
Drift will pay for it…
"But you are the most feared bounty hunter in the entire galaxy, boss" Divebomb said, a small smile.
"Yes! You're still number one!"
"For how long?"
He'd underestimated him…
If Drift decided to remain a bounty hunter, he might become a serious competitor. Even worse than Ronins themselves.
A problem replacing another…that's so logical.
"There are other bounties, boss!" Airazor said. "You'll easily get them!"
"Yes" Divebomb nodded. "Then sooner or later, we'll kill Drift. We'll get rid of him"
That's all he wanted…putting that scraplet into his grave.
100,000 Shanix lost…It'll haunt him for a long time.
"Hey, boss" Divebomb said.
"What?"
"You're alive"
Was it a way to reassure him?
"Yes" Airazor nodded. "You being alive is the most important thing"
"We'd have been lost without you, Boss"
In the end, Fracture focused back on them. For one moment, confusion was displayed on his face.
As well as a slight fear…
He realized he'd nearly died. He could have died.
He hadn't thought about it…without him, what would they have become?
"100,000 Shanix…we can have them easily"
"How?" The purple bot growled.
"There is a bounty at 20,000 Shanix, boss" Airazor smiled. "It just had been published on the social network"
"Seriously?"
20,000 Shanix…It was poor near the previous bounty…but better than nothing.
"Who?"
"A bot…located on Earth apparently"
"Localisation?"
"Mount Fuji. Japan"
Okay. Not too far from Cybertron. Three days in a ship trip…they could get it easily.
If that's so…Fracture sat up on his berth.
"Boss? What are you doing?"
"The most feared bounty hunter of the galaxy will take his bounty"
"But you aren't fully healed yet!"
"No way we'll miss that one! I'll heal in my ship!" Fracture roared.
He'd some hope again.
No way Drift will take that bounty as well.
Drift…so honourable…to the point he'd spared him…It'll cost him sooner or later.
"Boss…"
"Go distract the nurse while I escape"
He then winked at them. And for the first time since his arrival here, he smiled.
It was rare…And Minicons were slightly taken aback by his attitude.
"We still have so many adventures together. I'll not die that soon"
Oh no.
He'll not let himself be killed that easily.
He was strong…
And if Lockdown was still alive…he would be proud.