CHAPTER 82
Two years later…
"It's a good thing, Drift."
They passed near a planet. According to the map, its name was Saturn, the planet with rings. In their black and orange ship, the ship that Astro 4788 had specifically chosen as it fit with Drift's own colours, the samurai had activated the autopilot system. The clone had anticipated everything, including some comfortable apartments. Jetstorm and Slipstream were currently recharging in their shared room. It didn't surprise him. After all, they'd been traveling galaxies for two years now. Sometimes, such a trip could get them exhausted. Indeed, Drift preferred to let them rest.
After all, they'd no specific destination. The only thing that guided them over was some published bounties on the social network, either located on a star or some planet or whatsoever. They just needed the localisation. Then, they headed for it.
Drift let out a sigh. Having taken a seat at a table in the main room, he'd been talking with his old mentor through comm-links. It always felt good to hear his voice even if, these last times, their discussions were spaced out. They kept in touch, but whenever the ship passed by a solar eruption or some asteroids, the material could get damaged.
He just hoped that his mentor understood. Wing never commented on it. He always seemed happy whenever Drift contacted him. Sometimes, it reassured Drift. The orange bot could tell him about his last trips, having some news from others, finding the complicity they'd once had…and that they still shared after all.
It warmed his spark…he'd got the feeling that whenever they talked, they weren't at light years away from each other…Wing wasn't in the Crystal Cities and Drift wasn't on a ship, alone with his Minicons.
It felt like they shared the same room.
Yet…
"You're still a bounty hunter?" Wing softly asked him.
Drift nodded.
"…Yes"
Even if he'd left the Ronins…he still had his goal to reach. For two years now, he just did this. He hunted fugitive bots to bring them back to authorities in order for them to explain their actions. They'll be able to follow a better path afterward.
However…He'd learned to discern things.
He'd been hunting individuals that were wanted by Autobots. He knew that Autobots wouldn't easily sentence a person to death…Thinking back about his time in prison, Drift had concluded that it didn't have been the worst place ever. He thought back about this medic' words that'd taken him in after his suicide attempt.
Even if there had been a trial, Autobots wouldn't have decided to get him executed that bluntly.
Decepticons wouldn't be that merciful. No, far from it. They just wanted these bots to get them executed.
That's not what Drift wished. Thinking back about Astro 4788 who'd never committed any crime beside being a replacement for the dying founder of the Moon of Athena, he bitterly guessed that some other bots didn't have such his chance.
"…I'm working for Autobots though" Drift corrected himself.
"But…does it mean you've become an Autobot now?" Wing asked, some curiosity in his tone.
Drift hesitated.
In the end, he shook his head.
"No"
"But…you're alone…"
Drift took a breath.
Yes. He was alone.
But better being alone than bad company. That's what he'd learned. It had been a tough lesson though.
"It's not as hard as it seems"
"But with the conflict…"
"It is not my business any longer"
There was some disappointment in the white bot' optics.
Drift looked down.
"Anyway" He added. "I can't return to Cybertron anymore"
The threat had happened. He'd learned it, on social networks. In the last published news.
Megatron had ordered the final solution.
Autobot massacre…the murder of traitors, whether rumours had been true or false about them…
A billion of inhabitants slaughtered…
A billion of Cybertronians slaughtered…
It meant the end. The end of Cybertron.
Even Optimus Prime couldn't have saved all these bots. The only survivors had been the ones who'd left the planet early enough.
Like Drift.
Drift suppressed a lump into his throat.
In one way, he was relieved that Wing and the others had been living in the Circle of Light…they were safe here…yet…
Some other people…good people…femmes, children…all of them…massacred.
Drift could only feel desolation.
The faction he'd always supported…used such ways…
Wing stared back at him, an expression filled with sadness and sympathy. But if they had been in the same room, he'd probably done more than just stare back.
"…When will you visit me?" The white bot cautiously questioned.
Drift took a time before he answered.
"I don't know yet…I'm always on this ship. I don't have a break."
"You can have a break at the Crystal cities"
It sounded nice…
"I'm not asking you to go back to the Circle of Light but just…I want us to see each other. I just want to be with you" Wing said.
"Me too…I want to be with you"
Drift had his arms crossed, thoughtful.
"Look. I'm going to Earth, for a bounty. There is a Decepticon bounty hidden here. When it's over, I'll contact you again…okay?"
"Okay. Take your time, Drift. I don't want to force you in doing anything."
Wing slowly touched the screen.
"Axe and Esmeral organized a party. They're bonded now"
"I'm happy for them"
He never tore his optics off the orange bot.
"I miss you, you know. They miss you too"
Drift sadly smiled back.
"I miss you as well."
"Contact me whenever you can, okay?"
He hesitated. Batteries were running low. If he didn't say it today…He wouldn't have the strength to say it another day.
"Wing?"
"Yes?"
"…I love you too"
He'd said it.
Unfortunately, he heard no answer from the white bot.
The communication had been cut.
He'd just caught sight of a warm, sincere smile.
"Cheers!"
Wing had his cube up, smiling at the two newly bonded Conjunx. Outrigger hesitated. In the end, he did the same. He wouldn't have expected it one day. Before, he would never have been allowed to do it. Even for a special occasion, he'd never thought he would be at a table in a bar, in the Real Crystal City, along with others, a cube of high-grade at servo. It wasn't unpleasant at all…but it still felt strange.
Axe and Esmeral were bonded, they'd been here to feast it…Outrigger couldn't help but thinking back about the time where Dai Atlas had been the leader of the Circle of Light. Even without Outrigger, the other members had never organized any party. Well, sometimes, Wing and Axe had been out to take a cube together, after their mission…but even it'd been rare. Dai Atlas, and Star Saber as well, had never got the time for it.
Around them, Beak was flying around, chirping. Outrigger stared at his cube, before taking a sip of it. It tasted…strong yet strange. He coughed. Axe patted his back, laughing.
"Haha, it's okay, Outrigger! Stay with us"
"Isn't he a bit too young for drinking some high-grade?" Esmeral asked, a concerned expression on her face.
"Well. He's with us. He can get a cube" Wing smiled.
Outrigger chuckled, a bit embarrassed. Axe sighed before he smiled back at Wing.
"May we have better days…despite Cybertron' fall"
Yes…It'd come across galaxies…
Cybertron…Megatron' final solution…
How could they be insensitive to it? Especially since the Circle of Light protected the ancient Cybertronian culture…
Their planet was gone…
"It'll be rebuilt" Wing softly said.
"By who? Autobots?" Axe asked, not very convinced.
"Maybe they are the solution to the conflict…"
He glanced back at Esmeral. The green femme looked down.
"I don't think so"
"Someone will act out on it…If we don't want Cybertron to disappear forever…"
"Dai Atlas would have been ashamed of it" Axe bitterly sighed.
Outrigger looked down.
Yes…He'd waited for it all this time…going outside…Having the other members to treat him like an equal…
But now he'd got more responsibilities…he didn't feel happy.
Because Dai Atlas wasn't here. Because Drift, Jetstorm and Slipstream had left the Crystal Cities…
At which cost?
Wing focused back on the new couple.
"In any case…I'm happy for you. That's in these times we can think that…we haven't lost everything after all"
It comforted the group.
"Yes, I admit" Axe chuckled. "I didn't think I would live enough to bond with another person."
He took Esmeral's servo in his. They both exchanged an enamoured stare.
"I'm happy for you" Wing smiled.
"Me too" Outrigger said.
Esmeral smiled then leaned over to grab something at her pedes. A small bag.
"What is it?" The young bot asked.
"Books" Esmeral said.
Wing took one to read it. He raised one eyebrow at it.
"But this one…We'd already read it"
"Yes" Esmeral smiled. "I know someone who is rewriting some old Cybertronian books…ones from greatest authors…he is rewriting the ones who'd been destroyed in the war"
"That's a good thing" Wing approved. "I can't wait to rediscover them again"
Yes…
In these times…they forgot that Cybertron had fallen.
Then everything stopped.
Suddenly, Beak flied back to them, a completely panicked look on his face.
"Skwak! Skwak!"
"What's wrong, buddy?" Outrigger asked, reaching out to allow Beak land on his arm.
Outrigger didn't understand. He'd never witnessed his camera-bot in such a state. The other Circle of Light members exchanged a look, shocked.
There was something wrong…something serious happening…
They didn't take much time to find the location designated by the camera-bot.
At the surface…In the deserts of Crystal Cities…
They saw him.
A bot crawling in the sand, spitting some energon…begging for help…reaching out to them…
He couldn't go further. A hook was up, then lunged at the unfortunate bot. The hook then stabbed through the bot' arm. Energon forming a pool around him, the bot let out a deep scream of pain.
Immediately, Axe, Wing and Outrigger pulled their weapons out. Esmeral, even though she didn't have any on her, took a defensive stance.
"You think calling for help will help you?" The attacker sneered.
He was a stranger. They'd never seen him before.
He was a bot, with a green and black armour. His face was painted with white and black colours, red optics. He could have looked like a death head. Spikes on his armour, a hook at his right servo…
A Decepticon…
Axe was the first one to react.
"Who are you?"
The bot turned back to them. He bared his dentas, answering with a deep voice.
"Stay out of this! That business isn't yours"
"Aggressions are forbidden here!" Wing spat.
"I'm not aggressing him" The bot replied.
He stepped ahead, stopping a few centimetres away from the victim.
"I'm just taking my prize"
"A prize?" Esmeral repeated.
"What did that bot do to you?" Wing asked, fearing he'd misunderstood.
It couldn't be…
"Nothing. There is a bounty on his head. That's all"
A bounty hunter…Wing bitterly thought back of Drift.
He wondered if he did the same thing…
No. Of course not. Drift had changed.
He was no longer a Decepticon…
Axe remained on his guards.
"You'll let that bot go and you'll leave Crystal Cities now!"
"And why would I do such a thing?" The bot retorted.
"Everyone who is part of these lands has a protection on their heads"
"Too bad. I don't care about your rules"
The green bot pressed a pede on the bot' back, stopping him from crawling up further.
He displayed a sinister smirk.
"I thought Crystal Cities were apart from the universe…I wasn't wrong about that. You don't know who I am."
"It doesn't interest us!" Wing cried out.
"Too bad. You shall. My name is Lockdown"
He gave them a haughty and proud stare.
"I'm the most feared bounty hunter of the entire galaxy"
Outrigger immediately shouted back.
"We don't care! Leave!"
"What if I don't?"
"You'll not stand up again" Wing warned him.
"I see"
Lockdown had his left arm stretched out.
A chain-saw appeared at the end of it.
"You stupid warriors…"
"Outrigger! Get out!" Wing ordered.
Axe had been the first to attack, rising his weapon above his head. Lockdown easily blocked it and kicked the yellow and purple bot' knee. Axe yelped on the pain and jumped on the ground to dodge his own axe that planted into the ground, at the exact place where he'd been standing.
Witnessing this, Outrigger let out a cry of surprise. Out of instinct, he pulled his two blades but Wing glared at him. An expression he rarely displayed.
"Get out! Take care of the wounded bot!"
"But…"
"Do what you're told!"
Wing didn't give any other explanation. He charged as well, going to help Esmeral who'd been attacking Lockdown with her bare servos, using her servos and her pedes to push him away from her husband.
For one moment, Outrigger remained unmoving…He shall help them…Lockdown had a particular aura…
He wasn't a slave trader or an enemy from another planet who'd come to conquer Crystal Cities…
Something was different…Outrigger felt it.
But he stopped thinking. The injured bot was bleeding heavily. Hearing blades and roars behind him, Outrigger leaned over to grab him, lifting up on his pedes.
"Hold on" The young bot whispered.
He carefully stood up. The bot let out a painful cry. Outrigger growled, his spark aching at the pain of the bot. His weight was far more superior than his. But he'd to lead him to safety.
He must obey to Wing…The last time he'd disobeyed, Dai Atlas had been killed…
Behind, the battle raged. He mustn't stay here. In front of him, Beak searched for a safe way to go…
He heard a scream…
He didn't know if it was Axe, Wing or Lockdown…
Outrigger struggled hard not to turn around and assist them.
"Hold on! Everything will be okay! Stay with me!" The young bot begged.
But that's lost…the bot he'd been carrying just fainted in his arms…
Outrigger arrived to one of paths leading to the Circle of Light' base…Lockdown wouldn't find them inside, as it was a labyrinth. Not releasing the injured bot, Outrigger turned back to Beak.
"Thanks, buddy…"
He could do it…He would protect the bot…
His comrades…
Wing…Axe…Esmeral…
They endangered their lives…while he ran away to hide…
His legs went shaky…Outrigger tried to ignore them…
He would save him…
He suddenly heard a cry from Beak.
He only got time to lower down, dodging a hook passing above his head, before it planted through the wall.
Terrified, Outrigger turned around.
Lockdown faced him, smiling. A cold smile.
"Where do you think you're going? Along with my bounty?"
Outrigger didn't answer.
His chain-saw was activated again. A lump formed in Outrigger's throat.
If he was there, where the others-?
He threw the bot on the ground. Immediately, Outrigger pulled his blades out, putting himself in front of him.
"Sheesh. If you believe your katanas will protect you" Lockdown chuckled.
"Skwak!"
Beak lunged at the green bot, aiming to scratch his face. Lockdown growled and punched him, shoving him aside.
Outrigger didn't answer and charged.
The young bot blocked the first blow. It made him step back, almost sliding on the ground. Despite the bot' strength and his extremely heavy weapon, Outrigger was struck with horror, realizing how fast he actually was. Lockdown used his hook on him, almost scratching his optic but managed to strike the cheek. Outrigger yelped in pain. Energon dropped on the ground. A deep scar had been left on his right cheek. He looked up back at the bounty hunter but that single moment of inattention cost him dearly. He was hit again with a violent blow at the middle of his forehelm, the hoof covered with energon. Outrigger saw stars for some seconds, then collapsed a few meters away. Pain cut his breath, warm coming over his head…
He heard steps. His vision was blurry…
Lockdown's voice resonated.
"I thought Circle of Light members would be more resisting…"
His vision went clear again. He only had the time to watch as Lockdown had his chainsaw up, ready to strike him with it…
Outrigger reached out to grab his katana. He managed to block him just in time. Lockdown's smirk vanished.
Outrigger growled, his arm shaking under the weight of the chainsaw. He shouldn't give in…he must endure pain…just like Dai Atlas taught him to…
But he couldn't stand up…he couldn't move his leg…
Lockdown pressed again, intending to break Outrigger' katana…
Outrigger struggled…A bit…just a bit more…
He managed to make Lockdown's arm slide on the side, despite his weapon' weight…
And with all his strength, Outrigger let out a roar, his katana up to stab through Lockdown's chassis…
The bounty hunter let out an enraged and painful roar…
For one instant, Outrigger thought he'd won…
For one instant…
Lockdown's chainsaw was up again, lunging at him.
Outrigger closed his optics.
But he wasn't targeting his head to cut it off.
Instead…he targeted Outrigger's left leg.
The young bot let out a shrieking scream.
An unbearable pain took over him. A pain he'd never suffered from before…
Energon spurted. He felt everything…from the moment where his leg was cut apart off from the rest of his body…in a cloud of sparkles…
Outrigger didn't dare watch the scene…everything went slowly dark around him…heat was unbearable…energon covered his sight…
Lockdown laughed.
A deep, sardonic laugh…
The chainsaw went up again.
This time…he wouldn't escape…
From far, he heard a scream.
Outrigger was about to faint…he was about to disappear…
But the strike never came.
A shadow appeared in front of him.
No…not a shadow…A light…
Everything was fading…
The person slowly turned back to him. Outrigger didn't tear his optics off him. He could watch Wing's light…as well as a sword through his neck…
No…
Nothing…beside his comrade…
Wing smiled.
A proud smile…was he proud of him? Outrigger?
Outrigger watched as his lips moved…yet no sound came out from his mouth…
He didn't hear anything…
Then Outrigger gave in the darkness…his head fell backward while the warm sand welcomed him like a protective blanket…
"Wing! Outrigger!"
As soon as Axe arrived, Esmeral behind him, it was already too late. Axe ignored the unbearable pain at his right arm and his stomach…the horrible vision slowly appeared in front of him. His spark almost stopped. The yellow and purple bot rushed over to the two shapes lying on the ground. Wing and Outrigger weren't moving.
A pool of energon around them…
Lockdown wasn't there anymore. Neither the bounty.
"Esmeral! Call some help!" Axe shouted.
Esmeral immediately obeyed. Axe ran over to his comrades.
He glanced back at both. Outrigger had lost his leg. The injury was serious and had to be treated quickly…
Then he looked back at Wing.
Many wounds…a deadly one at the throat…the chassis split and opened, displaying his spark' light…
Axe felt something wet on his cheeks. No. He'll not…
Wing coughed. He was still alive! Axe rushed over to him, kneeling over to support his head.
"…Outrigger…" Wing whispered. "Please…take care of him…"
"No! Emergencies are coming!" Axe swore.
That's hopeless…
Deep down Axe knew it…it's hopeless…
Wing shook his head, energon coming out from his mouth.
"Wing! Don't leave me!"
"Axe…"
"Don't leave me! Please!"
He couldn't accept it…
First Dai Atlas…
Wing gave him a sad smile.
"You've always been the strongest one…"
"Shut up!"
"He would have killed me anyway…"
Wing's lights were flickering.
Drops landed on his forehelm…Axe knew where they came from…
His. His tears…
"My sword…"
Axe reluctantly glanced aside.
Wing's Great Sword…
Usually it was so shiny…but now…the colour went dull…
He'd used it…to the cost of his spark…
"…Give it to him"
"What?"
"You know…Who I am talking about…" Wing kept on. "He'll become an Autobot…he's a good person…you know that…"
Yes…
Axe guessed so.
"…We were planning to see each other…afterward…"
Wing's lights went off. Then he expired.
It felt like time had frozen…
This time, Axe didn't repress his cries. He didn't suppress his sobs. He hugged Wing's corpse tightly against him, screaming, desperately begging, calling Primus…begging for some help…He begged for anything…
"Axe…"
He didn't hear Esmeral's voice, as she tenderly wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"How many more do I need to lose?" Axe cried, his voice broken.
He forgot about his physical pain…
This…was more painful than anything…
Drift had brought the bounty back to Autobots.
A bot who'd been wanted for murder…he'd come to Earth…but he wondered if the trip had worth it.
Jetstorm and Slipstream had already left to recharge.
Drift remembered his promise. He'd promised to contact Wing as soon as he'll back…His mentor was probably worried sick.
He activated comm-link.
No one answered.