"Optimus Prime?"
Megatron nodded, his optics glinting. "But if you don't feel it in your capabilities to rid us of this meddlesome Autobot..."
There was enough challenge in his voice to make Drift bristle. He had never failed before. Never.
But the Prime?
The bristling gave way to a strange distance, to a paralysis of his spark. He couldn't kill the Prime in cold blood. If he didn't, though, someone else would. Drift himself would probably be terminated as well.
Megatron's smile turned cruel. "I trust you will succeed."
Drift only nodded once, then left, his feet taking him away from the Decepticon leader, the former Lord Protector of Cybertron.
Kill Optimus Prime.
Everything inside him rebelled against the order.
In the end he didn't. He had already failed twice before, each time finding a very plausible reason why he hadn't had success, and Megatron had given him one last chance – not without having Shockwave give him a glimpse as to what happened to failures.
Tyger Pax had been hell. A distraction by the Autobots to launch the Allspark into space. While the Decepticon forces had moved to the city-state to capture the elusive cosmic cube, Megatron had seen through the diversion.
As had Drift.
He had moved to where Optimus Prime had prepared to launch the Allspark into space and he had had the Autobot leader in his sights.
He hadn't pulled the trigger.
Red optics were fixed on the Autobot leader and Drift knew he could take him out, could end this – or make it worse.
As the Allspark shot off into space he followed it with his optics. His spark constricted, but it also meant a change of this war.
The enrage roar of Megatron echoed over the frequencies and Drift stepped back into the shadows as he watched the Decepticon leader rush after his elusive prize. Around him, the battle continued, but there was also confusion, which soon gave way to the Decepticons retreating. Starscream's voice shrieked over the comms and the airborne wings shot away after dropping their last concussion shells.
Drift melted away himself, a shadow in the shadows, slipping by Autobot soldiers.
He had failed his last task – willingly.
Now it was over. He was over. He was done for.
Touching the Decepticon symbol on his chest he drew deep grooves into his armor, rendering the symbol into a badly torn version.
It was over.
For everyone.
The existence of the Dynasty's heirs had really thrown him. Optimus Prime was no longer alone; he shared leadership. Rodimus Prime, now that he had spent more time in his presence, did show the traits of a Prime, though he was really very young. The two Primes had mentioned more heirs, but their names had been kept a secret.
Drift understood. Actually, he didn't really want to know. He was neutral, no longer involved in this war, and he wanted to be with Raoul.
Looking at the large plane that was going to take him to Nevada, then let him drive on to LA, he felt anxiety race through him. Raoul was sitting on his driver's seat, equally tense, chewing his lower lip.
"You trust them?" the human finally said.
"I trust the Prime."
"He's not god. I mean, I respect my president, too, but I also know that potentially dangerous people end up somewhere they can't be trouble any more…"
"Raoul…" Drift stopped, then sighed softly. "You wouldn't understand. It's complicated…"
"Uncomplicate it for me."
The mech shifted a little. "The Prime has always been part of our society. I can't but respect him. It's why I couldn't assassinate him. Don't get me wrong. I would defend myself, take his spark should he attack me, but what Megatron ordered went against everything I believed in. Defeating the Autobots was one thing; taking the Prime's spark…"
Raoul looked at the dark dash, silent.
"He won't go against his word. He will see me as neutral."
Still silence.
"Raoul?"
The young man sighed explosively. "Okay, I trust you with that. I wouldn't take that guy's word, but it's probably too alien for me to understand. Humans tend to lie; even the great leaders."
"As do Cybertronians."
"Still…"
"Still," Drift agreed.
The Ford finally started his engine and rolled toward the C-17. He parked next to the younger Prime and was strapped down. Raoul reluctantly moved to the seats, exchanging a brief smile with Bella. The girl was talking to that Lennox guy, who was apparently her father. Raoul had yet to get the whole story out of her. She was sticking to him like glue and the way it looked they were catching up on her whole life.
The transporter's loading doors closed and it started to taxi toward the take-off area. Raoul tensely watched proceedings, never leaving Drift out of his sight.
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The arrival at Nevada had been under intense security. The C-17 had rolled to a stop away from the base and Drift had driven out of the loading bay under heavy scrutiny, quite aware of the weapons aimed at him. Humans with guns, all able to seriously harm a Cybertronian, were standing at attention.
Raoul had refused to stay out of the Ford. He had argued that with him inside, the Autobots wouldn't shoot at the Decepticon. Bella had immediately slipped into the co-driver's seat, daring either of them to comment.
"So he's your Dad?" Raoul asked as they followed Optimus Prime's huge truck form, trailed by Rodimus Prime and the black GMC Topkick called Ironhide.
She nodded. "He died when I was six. At least I thought he had. He had been declared dead."
"Well, he looks alive. A bit weird, but alive." He shot her an apologetic look.
She gave him a watery smile. "I know. And no offense taken. This is one heck of a week."
He chuckled. "Tell me about it."
Drift's engine made nervous rumbles as they came closer to the large hangar. The open doors looked foreboding. Another mech was already waiting there. He was smaller than the others they had met so far, silver, and his optics were visored.
As they passed by him and the last of the security detail was inside, the hangar doors closed. Drift's nervousness increased and he was visibly fighting with himself. Bella got out, but didn't step away from the car, and Raoul followed her example. Drift transformed, immediately holding up his hands in a pacifying gesture. All his weapons were hidden and he hadn't activated a single defense mechanism or circuit.
"Welcome to Nevada base," Optimus Prime's deep voice rumbled.
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In the medical area Ratchet ran a quick scan on Rodimus, then closed the small puncture with expert skill.
"Nothing was damaged that can't repair itself," he agreed to what Rodimus had told him earlier. "All remaining damage was superficial. I've never seen these kinds of injuries before."
Rodimus ran careful fingertips over the closed area where the spear had struck him. "I've never been incapacitated like that before either," he agreed.
He slipped off the and headed for the door.
"Thanks, Ratch."
Ratchet was already filing the injury for later study. He simply grunted absent-mindedly as the young Prime left.
Rodimus smiled. ::On my way:: he told Optimus over the private channel. ::I'm okay. Nothing permanently damaged::
The Autobot leader acknowledged. They had a neutral Decepticon to talk to and find out just what was going on. Rodimus was looking forward to getting answers.
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Will watched his daughter, smiling a bit sadly. She had grown into quite a woman. She had Sarah's figure and features, but Will's dark eyes and his dark blond hair. Unlike Sarah's it wasn't all curly, but she had a few stubborn waves in it.
He wasn't at ease with the situation, but he had to admire her bravery and her loyalty. She hadn't known Drift as who he really was for more than a week, but she trusted her friend Raoul, and Raoul trusted Drift.
"Not all Decepticons are raving killers," Rodimus had agreed, "but they are dangerous. Their regard for another life form is low."
But Drift seemed to truly protect his friend. He cared. He had argued with Raoul to leave him.
Will looked at his partner, still resting a hand against the leg armor as if he needed something to ground him.
"Don't like it," Ironhide rumbled.
"Neither do I, but we have to work with it."
It got him an annoyed growl. He patted the leg.
Lennox's mind was racing as to what the future would be now. His daughter knew he wasn't dead any more. She knew about the Cybertronians. She had seen the runes.
Shit.
Life had just complicated even more.
He finally pushed away from Ironhide's reassuring presence and walked over to where Bella was watching Drift and Raoul disappear into the conference room.
"May I offer a tour?" he asked, holding out an arm in a chivalrous gesture.
Bella gave him a small smile. She took the arm, looking a little cowed.
"You'll be okay here," he told her softly. "Nothing will happen to either of you."
"And Drift?"
"And Drift."
"How can you promise that?"
He smiled tightly. "Let's just say I can."
The smaller silver mech that had been at the hangar entrance walked over to them and Will briefly looked up.
"You a-okay?" the mech asked.
"Sure. Jazz, my daughter Annabelle. Annabelle, this is Jazz, second-in-command to the Primes."
Jazz smiled at her. "Hello, little lady. Welcome to Nevada base."
Bella squared her shoulders. "Nice to meet you. This is so crazy," she added. "Corey would get a blast out of this."
"Corey?"
"My step-brother. Younger step-brother. Eric was married once and his wife died. Corey is two years younger than me and just started college. History, old languages, that stuff. There's also Peter. He's fourteen. Mom and Eric had him just after they married." She trailed off, looking guilty.
Will shook his head, squeezing a hand. "We still have a lot to catch up to."
"My whole life."
"And mine," he agreed softly.
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Drift had never been in the presence of the Prime before. He had seen him from afar, but never talked to him. Now, after three hours of answering questions, he was still slightly cowed by the power this one mechanoid exuded. But not him alone. He could almost see the connection between him and Rodimus Prime, the strength they shard, how co-leading had evolved their potential. Legends of the ancient Dynasty were taught to every mech who came online. These legends had fascinated no small number of mechs on Cybertron and Drift had been close to becoming a scientist before the war had changed everything.
He had made the wrong decision back then, but maybe, now, today, he had a chance to rectify what he had done.
That the Allspark had been destroyed had shocked him less than it should have. Maybe because the runes on Will Lennox's body had been so prominent. Optimus had confirmed that part of the Allspark had been absorbed in this human.
Raoul had drifted off after a while, too tired to keep his eyes open, but he had come awake with a jerk every time he tilted too far. Drift was silently amused by his friend's stubborn streak.
"The war is over," Optimus told him. "While there are still battles going on, fights being fought, the war has ended. Both sides lost."
Drift nodded.
"Megatron is dead, Soundwave has left, Shockwave is on Cybertron, and we have no idea where our homeworld is; if it's still even viable."
It hurt to think of Cybertron completely dead, but it was a fact he might have to accept.
"Earth means a new beginning for all of us; yours has already started."
"I like this world, Prime," Drift told him seriously. "Its people, its life…" He looked at the dozing Raoul. "The choices I made back on Cybertron were wrong. I know that. But given the chance, I couldn't be an Autobot either."
"Neutrals have always existed. I will respect your decision to remain neutral, Drift. Unlike Megatron I don't want to fill Autobot ranks by violence, threat and force."
Drift nodded.
"I'd like Ratchet to examine you before you leave," Optimus went on. "I believe you could do with a medical check."
"I suppose."
"He's not falling apart," a querulous voice growled. "Just because I'm a human mechanic…"
Drift gently touched him with one finger and Raoul huffed.
"Just sayin'. They think you're the bad guy one minute and a scrap heap the next!"
The Primes exchanged amused looks and Drift had to smile.
"I'll accept," he only said.
tbc...