Friday, March 21, 2025

Transformers Regenerated Comic: Issue 2 - Spotlight: Drift

     Date: 7/28/2013

MASTERS OF METALLIKATO, PART 1

    (At an alien bar...)

    ALIEN BARTENDER: May I help you?

    DRIFT: I am in need of information.

    ALIEN BARTENDER: Yeah, in case you haven't noticed, pal, this is a cantina not a- wait a minute... You're one of them! You're one of those Cybertronians! Everywhere you go, war follows. Get out of here!

    DRIFT: Our war is over.

    ALIEN BARTENDER: Yeah? How long until it starts again?

    (CHOOM! Someone blasts into the bar)

    ALIEN PATRON: Yipe!

    LOCKDOWN: I figured that I would find you here. Get 'im, boys.

    (Lockdown's partners are Axer and Gunslinger. Gunslinger is based on SWTF Boba Fett.)

    DRIFT: (narration) I'm sure you're wondering; how did I get into this mess? Let me start from the beginning.

    (The Dead End, Polyhex; before the war)

    DRIFT: Spare energon, anyone? Just a droplet? I could really use it...

    THUG #1: Well, look what we have here. A poor little homeless 'bot begging for energon. We really should give him some.

    THUG #2: Yeh.

    (They cut Drift's arm)

    DRIFT: AGGH!

    THUG #1: Some of his own! Ha ha!

    THUG #2: Huh-huh.

    (Later...)

    RUNABOUT: Hey!

    DRIFT: Oh no...

    RUNABOUT: You still ow us, punk! It's been nearly an orbital cycle!

    DRIFT: Please, I don't have anything! Just leave me alone!

    RUNABOUT: I think we should give this kid a lesson, eh, Runamuck?

    RUNAMUCK: Heh.

    DRIFT: No, please! Don't--

    (Runabout gets shot in the back)

    SFX: CHOOM!

    RUNABOUT: AKK!

    RUNAMUCK: Runabout...? (He gets shot as well) Oh crud...

    DEVCON: This is Devcon. I found them; they were harassing a young 'bot. Yeah, from the Dead End. Looks a bit beaten up. ...Are you sure? Well, if you say so. You're coming with me, kid...

    (Present)

    GUNSLINGER: Any last words? Or are you just going to stand there like a-- (Drift slices his head off) ARRG--!

    DRIFT: Any last words? Then let's dance.

    (Before the war...)

    DRIFT: Erg... where am I?

    YOKETRON: I'm glad to see that you're still functional. I was afraid that you would not survive your repair. I am Sensei Yoketron, Grand Master of the Cyber-Ninja Dojo. You know Devcon here. He's one of my former students.

    DEVCON: 'Sup.

    DRIFT: Why did you bring me here?

    YOKETRON: Well, you were heavily injured and--

    DRIFT: Yeah, but you could've taken me to the local medcenter. Why here?

    DEVCON: Tell him.

    YOKETRON: This place is more than just a school, Drift. Far more. It's a shelter. Many of the students I've trained had lived lives as rough as yours. I took them under my wing so they could learn to protect themselves without going through the Elite Guard's harsh training.

    (He leads Drift into a room full of holographic busts)

    DEVCON: This is my favorite part.

    YOKETRON: Behold... the Hall of Heroes! These are the visages of only a handful of my students. I'm not sure how are you are of life outside of Polyhex, but you may recognize some familiar faces.

    DRIFT: Is that-?

    YOKETRON: Yes, Councilor Dai Atlas.

    DEVCON: This is me. The likeness is uncanny.

    YOKETRON: So tell me, Drift. Do you wish to have your face among these others? Do you wish to be a Cyber-Ninja?

    (Present)

    AXER: Stupid Autobot! Maybe if you carried better arsenal, you wouldn't have to hide behind tables! I'm going after him!

    LOCKDOWN: Wait, Axer! Do you want to end up like that? (He points to Gunslinger's headless body)

    AXER: Not if I get to him first! Time to die, Autobot! YAAH! (Drift cuts off his axe arm) Oh... (Drift pushes a table into him) Hey!

    DRIFT: Now it's just you and me!

    LOCKDOWN: Yup. (He disables Drift with an EMP)

    DRIFT: AGGH! Oof!

    (Before the war)

    YOKETRON: Remember to focus, Drift. If you are in battle and are distracted easily... you'll be defeated in no time. But don't worry; even the greatest of my students have made mistakes. Practice may take time but it will benefit you.

    DRIFT: Sensei, there's an empty podium here.

    (Beat)

    YOKETRON: Everyone makes mistakes, Drift... not just students.

    (Present)

    DRIFT: Erg...

    LOCKDOWN: Up and at 'em... Axer, prep up the Death's Head while I speak with our client.

    AXER: Right.

    DRIFT: Who in the galaxy would put a bounty on a mere lone Autobot?

    LOCKDOWN: You'd be surprised... or perhaps not.

    (He displays a hologram of Turmoil)

    TURMOIL: Hello... Deadlock. Or is it Drift now? I sometimes forget.

    DRIFT: Turmoil...

    TURMOIL: I see I was right in hiring you, Lockdown. Send him to me immediately.

    LOCKDOWN: Not yet... not until we've discussed the matter of payment first.

    (Before the war)

    YOKETRON: I'm disappointed in you, Drift... I would think that you would know better than to side with those savage Decepticons.

    DRIFT: You don't understand, Sensei. The Senate is corrupt; they're practically enslaving us!

    YOKETRON: Maybe so, but brutality isn't the answer--

    DRIFT: Maybe it should be! Maybe we should beat the Senate at their own game! Show them how we feel!

    YOKETRON: Drift, please don't--

    DRIFT: It's Deadlock now... and I'll decide my own destiny. (He slams the door behind him)

    YOKETRON: Even the greatest of us makes mistakes...

    (Later, during the war; Dabola...)

    DEADLOCK: Show no mercy, Decepticons. Kill everything/

    TURMOIL: Very good commanding skills, Deadlock... but let me do the talking. Decepticons, hold your fire. You there. Are you the commander of this squad?

    AUTOBOT: Yes...

    TURMOIL: Do you admit defeat?

    AUTOBOT: Yes.

    TURMOIL: Are you ashamed by your failure?

    AUTOBOT: Yes.

    TURMOIL: Good. At least you're man enough to handle this.

    AUTOBOT: I'll... take that as a compli-- (Turmoil blasts his head off)

    DEADLOCK: No! You didn't need to do that!

    TURMOIL: And why not?

    DEADLOCK: He admitted defeat! He surrendered! The battle was over! There was no point in killing him! Have you no honor?!

    TURMOIL: Honor? That word has no meaning amongst the Decepticons. Honor is for the weak, and in our world, it's survival of the fittest! Do I make myself clear?

    DEADLOCK: ...Yes.

    (Present, the Death's Head...)

    LOCKDOWN: You shouldn't have deserted from the 'Cons, kid... Turmoil never shows mercy for traitors.

    DRIFT: You think I don't know that? You think I don't know his wrath? Right before I left the Decepticons, he threatened me by saying:

    TURMOIL: I will rid you of everything.

    DRIFT: (narration) Back then, I didn't know what he meant. Until I returned to Cybertron...

    (In the past, Drift finds the dojo in flames)

    DRIFT: Master Yoketron!

    YOKETRON: D-Drift?

    DRIFT: Master! Turmoil did this. This is all my fault!

    YOKETRON: No, Drift... you... were right in leaving the Decepticons. You... had no control over this. I have but... one last wish for you.

    DRIFT: Yes, master?

    YOKETRON: Go... to Theophany. Find... the Circle of Light. They... will complete your training.

    DRIFT: Yes, master.

    (Yoketron shuts offline for good)

    (Present...)

    LOCKDOWN: Touching. I don't think Turmoil will be in a mood for--

    SFX: BWEEP! BWEEP!

    LOCKDOWN: Huh? What is going-- oh.

    (A red and black jet heads straight for the Death's Head)

    DRIFT: (narration) Welp, that's my story. Hope you enjoyed it... 'cause I think this is THE END!

CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Devcon (flashbacks), Drift/Deadlock, Windblade, Yoketron (flashbacks)

    Decepticons: Axer, Dreadwing (flashbacks), Gunslinger, Lockdown, Skyjack (flashbacks), Turmoil, Vehicons (flashbacks)

    Others: Bartender, Runabout (flashbacks), Runamuck (flashbacks)

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