CHAPTER 84
A million of years later, before Robot in disguise events
"Is it a special day today?" Jetstorm asked.
Drift nodded. Around them, streets were quite full of people. Some bots left bars while singing, arms around their friends' shoulders, a cube of high-grade energon at servo.
It was a particular feeling…but not as strange since the day the City had been entirely rebuilt. Indeed, after the victory of Optimus Prime and his team, after the creation of a new High Council filled with Autobots, each Cybertronian tried to contribute to the New Cybertron.
A Cybertronian that hadn't been corrupted by the caste system…Where people wouldn't be hunted down and murdered because of their affiliation or, on the contrary, because of their non-affiliation to a faction…
Drift passed by a street where he'd been use to beg people for money. He chose not to stop.
"What is news about today?" A bot asked.
Drift politely refused. He gave a stern glare at Slipstream who'd stopped walking. Here now, it was so easy to get lost.
"What is this special day?" Jetstorm questioned, putting his now blue optics on his Master.
"Optimus Prime's victory. Ten years had passed since the end of the war."
However, people mustn't believe that everything was perfect. Unemployment was still high and some Decepticons refused to admit that Autobots had defeated them. Most of crimes here were caused by Megatron's old faction. However, Autobots hadn't changed their ways. It was prison, without going straight for execution, beside for extremely serious crimes.
Nevertheless, some inhabitants left their houses to feast it. Feasting as if there was no tomorrow…
Just like Drift…Who'd decided to live in the present, as if there was no tomorrow…and enjoying each moment. Training his students, hunting wanted bots and giving them another chance to follow a better path.
That's his contribution…for a better planet. A better Cybertron…without the conflict' violence.
Maybe was it too idealistic…but in catching sight of Optimus Primus' statute, standing up in the centre of the City…he guessed that some people wanted to believe in this utopia. To the point of fighting for it.
Drift let out a new sigh, stepping for the bounty's office. He'd been aware of a new ad. He wondered what it was about.
He stopped in front of the ad itself. A hologram slightly flickered. Nevertheless, he could read the name of the bounty.
Today, the target stunned him.
"Who is it, Master Drift?" Slipstream questioned.
Drift re-read it again, not buying it.
"…Bumblebee"
"Bumblebee?" Jetstorm repeated.
"The one we'd met in Iacon?" Slipstream said.
"The same" the orange bot confirmed.
He looked down to the yellow bot' picture. He didn't have his mask, this time.
"Strange…"
"What did he do?" Slipstream wondered.
"His crimes are…various"
Unauthorized use of space-bridge, kidnapping…
It left him doubtful. The first one wasn't that horrible itself but…kidnapping? Of what? Children?
He shook his head, thinking back about the cube Bumblebee had offered him.
Any individual could perform the best acts…as well as the worst ones.
Yet…It shouldn't affect his lifestyle. He'll do the same as he did to others.
"What do we do, Master Drift?"
"…We take it"
Earth…It was quite far but it didn't matter. It must be him…
If Bumblebee met other bounty hunters…it'll be better for him if he dealt with Drift.
"Let's prepare the ship" The orange bot ordered them.
Both Minicons bowed.
"Of course, Master"
At their belts, their respective weapons.
The ones he'd taught them to use.
Naginata for Slipstream…Nunchaku for Jetstorm…
For a long time, he'd wondered if these weapons were good to them…but his students looked happy with them.
Slipstream could use his quite well…But Jetstorm had to practice more.
"We'll save a bounty!" Jetstorm smiled.
"Never gloat, pupil"
He felt Jetstorm's disappointment.
But he couldn't take any pleasure in hunting…
Especially since Drift's attention had been drawn to…a familiar presence.
In his back, he could feel his stare.
He stopped.
"Master Drift?"
He didn't answer. He glanced back at behind his shoulder.
Meeting him here should have surprised him more…
Here…At the other end of the street…standing up on the pavement, Fracture stared back at him, an unreadable expression on his face.
At his pedes, his Minicon torpedoes.
None of these three moved. Drift completely turned back to him.
The purple bot didn't move.
Jetstorm and Slipstream followed their Master's gaze.
"Oh no…"
"It doesn't surprise me to find him here"
After all, the prize was quite good. Fracture had come across the ad, just like Drift.
It comforted Drift in his decision to take the bounty…
Fracture should have died…
But honourable people always faded away…and scums remained.
Always.
But if they'd to come to a fight, Drift accepted it.
Drift slowly turned around, heading for the ship that'd been located at the exterior of the City, his pupils by his side.
Behind, he could guess that Fracture and his subordinates did the same.
Who would arrive on Earth first?
But Drift wouldn't give up.
He knew how to fight…and he wasn't alone. Not anymore. He was with his pupils.
Not his Minicons. His students.
"You think we'll convince him to follow a better path?" Jetstorm softly wondered.
Drift paused.
In the end, he nodded.
"Yes…we will. I'm sure of it"
If he'd chosen to take a better path…anyone else could do the same…if they willingly chose it.
Deep down he thought back of Wing's sentence, the day he'd come to the Circle of Light.
His optics closed.
He revived the exact moment.
We all tend to think there is only good and evil. People are all good or they are all evil. However, that's just an illusion. There are only acts and their consequences. Yet, do you think our acts and mistakes portray us as a good or a bad person?